CHAPTER 9: "THE KISS"

Thursday, 9:00pm

Brennan was distracted from Booth's question by his hands, both of which were still initiating twin trails of incredible heat. Her eyes followed first the hand intertwined and caressing her own, over to the other that was massaging her leg, before finally raising her gaze to her partner. She stared, confused by the emotion captured on his face. Then finally, like the proverbial light bulb, the truth dawned on her.

Booth saw the very second realization struck and he waited with baited breath for her response.

"Booth, do you want me physically?" Seeing his frown, she quickly amended, "I mean romantically?"

"Something like that," hedged Booth, not willing to scare her away. "And how do you feel about me?"

"What about the line? Being unprofessional? Added risk? Just friends and partners?"

"I like that you put friends first, that's already answering my question," said Booth smiling, before turning serious. "That line was made before we really understood our connection and how strong it would become. At the time I needed to put up a wall against my physical attraction to you. I believed if we had sex, I would develop an emotional attachment that could be used against us. I guess I didn't take into account I was going to develop that attachment anyway." At this Booth's smile returned, "After all you were really annoying."

Brennan gasped in mock indignation, "Huh! I was annoying? Well you were arrogant and overbearing."

"You are so competitive, you know that? I say one negative thing and you come back with two."

Brennan shrugged and smiled, "It's my nature."

Booth shook his head amused by her response, but still thinking of the one he needed to hear. "So how do you feel about me?"

She opened her mouth to answer, but no sound came out so she closed it again. She had started to answer in some vague, sidestepping, manner but at the eager look on his face she stopped. He deserved full disclosure, so she began to think seriously about her feelings. She hung her head lost in memories of their rescues, talks, dinners, hugs, looks, bickering, and comfort. Here in front of her was the only man she had ever allowed to protect, guide, advise, hold, casually touch, boss her around, and see her cry.

"What if it doesn't work, Booth? It's not realistic to think we could go back to being what we are now without any awkward adjustments." She gestured her free hand between them.

Booth's heart leapt at the implication that she was considering the possibilities of a romantic relationship.

Before he could reassure her, she started talking again. "I'm not good with relationships. You're a romantic, Booth. I'm not and I know you're going to want more from me. I won't know or understand what that more is and you'll end up frustrated and we'll end up breaking up, realizing everything was a mistake." She had pulled her hand from his and was gesturing with more energy, clearly displaying her agitation.

"Whoa, whoa, Bones, slow down a second, you're going to have us dead and buried before long." Booth grabbed both of her hands in his, holding them in her lap, before he continued, "You and I, both, weren't very good at being partners in the beginning. We were great at watching each other's back and solving the crimes, but not at being partners and working through interrogations or talking out the facts. But we worked on it together. I compromised by recognizing the depth of your devotion to justice and really letting you be my partner. You compromised by sharing who you are and believing in me, when you couldn't explain everything with science. We talked to each other Bones, that's how our partnership developed into a friendship and continued 'til we got here. So if it's true that we won't be immediately fantastic together in a romantic relationship, we'll talk to each other until we figure out what works for both of us."

She calmed as his logic invaded her mind and eliminated the doubts. He saw the tension ease away and moved closer. "We can do this Bones. Trust me."

"I do trust you," she said as she squeezed his hands. "I just hope you don't regret this one day."

"You said it yourself, I know you better than anyone and it's true. I know exactly how you are in most situations and at almost any time of the day." He lowered his voice to that sexy timbre that felt like a caress on bare skin. "Except when you first wake up. I know what I'm getting into and honestly I can't wait to start."

"Ok. So how do we start?"

Booth's smile was dazzling as he leaned in for their first real kiss. He hovered a mere breath away, teasing her for a few maddening seconds, before he closed the gap and sealed their lips. Warmth shot through their systems. Brennan's hands moved of their own volition, out of his grasp, reaching around his neck to bring him closer. Booth's now free hands rested on her thighs, slowly moving up her legs until settling on her hips. The kiss deepened, as they tasted each other, sucking and nibbling.

Brennan pulled away first, needing a second to adjust to the chemicals racing through her veins. It took her mind a breath's time to realize how natural their kiss felt and not just because he had great technique; it was because he was Booth. Not one to hesitate once a conclusion was reached; Brennan rose and straddled his legs, reengaging his lips.

Booth gasped at the change in position and Brennan slipped her tongue inside, eager to taste every inch of that incredible mouth. Booth felt like he was about to explode from the overload of sensations. He dug his fingers into her hips trying desperately to keep a shred of self-control. His body screamed to bury itself to the hilt in her right this second and his mind was quickly losing the will to resist that temptation. He pulled away desperate to calm himself. "Bones!" was all he could gasp as he drew in a ragged breath.

"Shhh, it's okay," her sexy voice did little to help his situation. "I know nothing more is going to happen tonight. Like I said, you're a romantic and you'll want to make sure everything is special. All that is fine, we can do this your way. I just want to kiss you a little longer." Not waiting for him to reply she tasted him again, loving the way every inch of her skin reacted to the kiss. He had not dared to move his hands from her hips and her mind wondered what it would feel like when those wonderful phalanges were released to join in their play.

After a few more minutes of this delicious torture, Booth pulled away again. "God Bones, you're killing me."

It was hard to stop, but Brennan respected Booth too much to seduce him. She reluctantly moved off his lap and sat back next to him. The only sound in the room was their uneven breathing.

Booth finally spoke, "I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I have to leave… like now. I wasn't expecting you to kiss me back like that."

"Well you did say I was competitive."