Found some time to post a chapter. Yay! Thank you everyone for reading and reviewing. Kareneb, GalaxieGurl (thank you, although I didn't fancy any Nancy Drew or Agatha Christie books), 554Laura, MoreBonesPlz, aadams00.
Booth bounced his leg up and down anxiously. The highly anticipated shipment of illicit drugs had been delivered smoothly just as planned. Hodgins had covered all the bases and they stood to make a ton of money in the process. Chief Walsh, duly scared by Booth making a trip to his abode, had made quick work of sweeping the shooting incident under the rug and Vincent's body had been returned to his mother without being cut up and examined by the medical examiner. Still he couldn't help the anxiety in his gut, something he wasn't accustomed to feeling when he was in the familiar territory of his most popular nightclub.
He had stood her up and he worried Brennan might be mad at him. He toyed with the idea of going to her apartment but he had too much pride. Keeping up appearances, that was what his father had always taught him. Nobody could see him as weak. He was powerful and always got what he wanted. This time what he wanted seemed to be slipping out of his grasp.
That night, he was seated in his usual booth, alone this time. He wasn't in the mood for drinks or the company of other women. He now had his eyes only on one. Camille Saroyan was the only one brave enough to join him. The daughter of one of Edwin Booth's closet associates, the two had grown up together and she was like an older sister to him.
"What's making you all broody?"
"None of your business."
"Can't be Vincent is it? This isn't the first time we've lost one of our own." Cam patted him affectionately on the knee.
Booth shrugged.
Cam pressed on. "That girl you brought home two nights ago?"
"How'd you know?"
"I saw you two together, saw how you looked at her. I know you Seeley."
"She might be the one you know?"
"Really?"
"I think so."
"Seeley if you're serious about her…"
"I know. It's gonna take patience and time. I need to gain her trust before letting her in on what we do."
"If you decide on letting her in."
"Look if I'm gonna make something of us, give it a shot for the long haul, I've gotta tell her some day right?"
"Just be careful. We've got so much to lose."
"I know what I'm doing Camille."
Cam rolled her eyes. She hated to be called by her full name.
"I'm the one who approves all the people who work for you, your housekeeper, the pool boy, I'm good at reading people. I get the vibe you need to be careful around her."
"Just by one look?" Booth stared at Cam incredulously, suddenly angry. "I don't need your stamp of approval on who I go out with."
"Relax Seeley, I just want what's best for you. You're like my little brother." She spied the woman Booth was pining for entering the club. "Looks like here's your chance to make amends." She nodded towards the club entrance.
Brennan saw Booth at his usual spot. He didn't have an entourage of women with him, but the attractive African American next to him seemed very cosy with him. He was talking to her with a closeness she hadn't seen with the other women he was with. A tinge of jealousy started to spread through her. He seemed to have noticed her and stood, flashing her his charm smile.
As he approached, she noticed how the crowd seemed to instinctively part, clearing a smooth path for him to her.
"Hi," he greeted her somewhat shyly.
"I was afraid you wouldn't be here."
"You scared?"
"I get scared, just like you."
Booth smiled, she didn't seem angry. He took her hand in his, squeezing gently. "Listen, about last night, I'm really sorry."
"You better have a good reason for standing me up."
"I do. But not here."
Brennan did a double-take, was he going to share all his deep, dark secrets with her?
"C'mon, let's go somewhere we can talk."
For a moment, she thought he would drive her to his hilltop thinking spot again. Instead he led her towards a spiral staircase with a "no entry" sign to the side of the dance floor. Beside the stairs, Wendell stood menacingly keeping an eye on all the proceedings in the club. Wendell nodded at his boss as Booth led her up the stairs, then along the narrow catwalk overlooking the club to the back where she concluded had to be where his office was located.
He opened the door and led her in. It was a typical office, equip with a desk, computer and several filing cabinets. To the corner sat a rather luxurious looking couch. He pulled her towards the couch and they sat side by side.
"About last night, there was a bereavement. Something happened to one of my guys. It was an emergency. I had to see to it, I'm sorry. Won't happen again."
Angela's intel had been accurate. "Is everything okay?" She asked, genuinely concerned.
"Yeah, it will be, thanks for asking."
"I was a little upset you didn't show up. I thought I was going to be like one of those girls you have a one-night stand with."
"You? Never. I told you, this is going somewhere. You're not like the others."
Brennan smiled a shy smile and leaned over to plant a kiss on his lips. She tried to pry more out of him. "So, this is your office huh?"
"Yeah."
"How many girlfriends have you brought up here to make out with?"
"You're the first."
"I'm your girlfriend now?"
"I hope you are. I want you to be. All those women you've seen me with, they won't be a problem. Once I decree that you're mine, and I'm yours, they'll back off."
"Decree huh?"
"You did say this was my kingdom."
Brennan paused, this was what she was here to do. Gain his trust, make him let his guard down, collect evidence, call in SWAT, bring him down. The sequence of events had been very clearly mapped out for her but the thought of SWAT descending on them and the possibility of him getting hurt in the process didn't sit well with her at all.
He again mistook her long pause for doubt. "Look, Temperance, I know I don't have a good rep when it comes to women okay? But it's because I've never found the right one yet. But like I said, we have this connection, it's like nothing I've ever had with anyone else. I'm serious about you and I want this, us… to work out. But… if you don't feel the same way… it's not like you're my prisoner… you can go… I mean if you want to…"
He looked like a hurt little schoolboy. She did feel the same and it scared and exhilarated her at the same time. The lines she had drawn in her head once again blurred.
"I feel that connection too." There was only truth in her voice.
Booth beamed at her. She had to be the one, the one everyone would call Mrs Booth. He leaned towards her, pressing a hot passionate kiss to her lips. Again, that kiss wiped all coherent thought out of her mind. They kissed passionately, their tongues duelling for dominance. His busy fingers ghosted the tops of her breasts sending tingles of pleasure down her spine. He slipped the thin straps off her shoulders, pulling the top of her dress down to reveal her breasts. He was on her immediately licking and sucking. She reached for the buckle of his pants and unbuckled them. They separated long enough for him to shuck off his pants and boxers while she hitched up her dress pulling off her lacy panties. Booth groaned at the sight of her and was on top of her instantly.
"I want you so bad," he groaned as he buried his face into her neck, planting hot kisses. With one hand, he reached down between her legs, his fingers gently skimming her folds, delighted to find her already wet and ready for him.
"I want you too." She reached for his hard cock and guided him between her warm thighs, towards the entrance of her aching core. The sensations from two nights ago flashed in her mind and she wanted to feel them again. She let out a moan of pleasure as he pushed himself into her, quickly beginning to move hard and fast in and out of her. She wrapped her legs round his waist, hooking her ankles behind him. The angle allowed him deeper penetration and he hit somewhere nice inside her each time he slid in. In and out, the friction generated between them was exquisitely delicious and soon both exploded in ecstasy. Still panting, Booth was quick to slide out of her, not wanting to crush her with his weight.
"That was a very good quickie." Brennan giggled, causing him to laugh along with her. He pulled her towards him, pressing a chaste kiss to the top of her head.
"I'm madly in love with you Temperance." Booth whispered.
Brennan thought she might cry from the irony of her situation. Truth be told she felt like she was madly in love with him too, which would have been great, save for the fact that he was a known mob boss and she was an undercover FBI Agent. Booth didn't need her to answer. She didn't seem frightened by his confession and wasn't expecting her to reply that she felt the same. The fact that she had agreed to feeling something special between them was good enough for now.
As their breathing returned to normal, Booth got up and retrieved her discarded panties, handing it to her with a cheeky smile. He pulled on his boxers and pants, all the while watching her put on her underwear and pull up her dress to cover her breasts. He reached a hand to her, helping her stand on wobbly legs. He pulled her dress back down, trying in vain to smooth the wrinkles on it.
"Forget it," Brennan laughed.
His body was unwilling to lose contact with her and he once again pulled her to him, wrapping an arm round her waist.
"I need to get back on the floor. Come with me. I'll take you home later."
He led her out of the office back down the catwalk when the band started to play a slow song. Booth flashed her a smile. "Dance with me?"
Brennan wrapped her arms round his neck, resting her head on his shoulder. It was all contradictory but she felt a strange sense of security and warmth in his embrace. They swayed to the music, lost in each other's arms for an inordinate amount of time when she heard someone call out to Booth.
"Seeley."
The couple separated and Brennan turned to find the woman Booth was with earlier standing a few feet from them. She felt a wave of jealousy course through her.
"Cam. What are you doing here?"
"I was on my way to the office, you guys are kinda in my way."
"Right." He gestured to Brennan, "Temperance. This is Cam Saroyan."
Cam reached out her hand which Brennan shook cautiously. "Cam and I grew up together. Our fathers were business partners and our families spent a lot of time together. She's like my big sister."
"I'm not that much older than you Seeley."
"I didn't say you were old." Booth teased.
Brennan relaxed. Their banter did remind her of siblings.
"Oh and I have a confession to make," Booth looked at Brennan. "When you asked me if I brought other women to my office… well Cam comes to my office a lot. I mean when I'm not at the club, she helps keep an eye on things.
Cam smiled. "He's right Temperance. Except, I don't go to his office to have sex like you guys did. Wrinkled dress, swollen lips, it's kinda hard not to know what you two were busy with in there."
"Cam…" Booth groaned. It was the first time Brennan had seen Booth slightly embarrassed instead of his usual cocky self.
"Hey I know you Seeley, nothing to be shy about. Anyway, I really have to get to the office to see to some paperwork. Nice meeting you Temperance."
"You too Cam." Brennan replied politely as Cam walked past them.
They descended the stairs back to the dance floor. Booth leaned in to Brennan, pressing a kiss to her lips. She was someone he knew he wouldn't ever tire of.
"Come on, I need to get back down there."
As they made their way back to the table where he usually occupied, he wrapped a protective arm round her waist. A gesture to the world that she was his. She could feel many jealous female eyes on them, but she knew he only had eyes for her. It was half the battle won, she had gained his love and trust. She knew this couldn't possibly end well, especially since she knew she was falling hard for him. She had to somehow figure out a way to reconcile the conflicting worlds they came from, without either of them ending up seriously hurt in the process.
Some of you have mentioned in your reviews from the past chapters that you're anxious to see how things play out once Booth finds out, if he does find out. This would be addressed in the next couple of chapters. Stay tuned.
