XI. The Step in a new Direction

The sound of the rushing water filled the air, and lavender scent soared out of the tub. While Temperance Brennan peeled herself out of her wet clothes and lowered her body into the promising warmth, her mind was in overdrive. She had faith in Booth, as much faith as one human being could possibly have in another one. He understood people. He never failed to see things she was oblivious to. And Booth had faith in her. He wanted her; he believed that she was the one to make him happy. Her rational conclusion had to be trusting him with this as well. So if he was convinced about giving this a try, logically she should follow his instincts. The hard part and the unknown variable X in this equation still were her own feelings.

What did she feel?

When he kissed her, she felt whole and happy. When he touched her, she longed for more. She felt safe and jealous and out of control. Was she willing to lose or leave him? Definitely not. She wanted to spend the nights in his arms and wake up to his smiling face. She thought of his words, how everything else silenced for him when she laughed – she knew that feeling. The countless times she had watched him through a one-way mirror crossed her mind as well. Every time his hand touched the small of her back, a feeling of belonging rushed through her body...

Brennan held her breath and plunged under the surface. She wasn't a coward, and there, completely surrounded and shielded by the scented water, she finally made up her mind.

Meanwhile in the living room Booth had started a cozy fire, and his wet clothes plus the blanket were spread out on the floor. He had changed into comfortable grey sweatpants and a white tee; his hair was drying naturally. All the while he tried not to think of his partner and the feeling of kissing her. Covering him with that blanket was so uncharacteristically illogical for her, but so sweet at the same time. He really wished she could allow herself to trust her heart. Now that he had gotten some glimpses of her emotional side, he couldn't wait to take in the whole picture. Laughing, smiling Temperance Brennan, living happily ever after at his side.

'Okay, apparently not thinking of her went as well as always,' he thought and plopped himself into the cushions of the sofa. This woman will be his downfall or his biggest luck. He heard her steps on the stairs before he saw her, and Booth prepared himself for facing Brennan. When he looked up, her natural beauty took his breath away one more time. She wore a silky blue robe, her hair in a loose ponytail, but then his eyes fell to her feet, and he had to chuckle. The thick polka dotted socks she was wearing only heightened her cuteness factor. "Bones, you look like a goddess, but your socks kind of ruin the picture." She frowned and looked down at her body.

"My feet were cold, Booth. Pneumonia, remember?"

He laughed softly. "Even if I endanger myself, I have to repeat how cute you are."

Brennan took a step in her partner's direction and whispered, "And I may endanger myself as well, but it might be that I want you to think I am cute."

Booth crossed his arms in front of his chest, and his whole body language turned cautious at her words. She didn't miss his attempt of self-protection and for a second she felt hurt at the irrational feeling that he could reject her, but then she remembered their earlier conversation and everything before it.

"Booth," a deep breath, "I am sure."

Their eyes locked, and his voice was low as well.

"Prove it. I'm sorry, but I need to know."

She understood and began approaching him.

"I never meant to hurt you, but the result was that you ended up hurt even worse. Booth, I'm so sorry. I'm going all in with you. I promise I won't back out and if I get scared again, I'll tell you so that you can help me."

With her last words she stood in front of his sitting form and tentatively reached out her hand to touch his hair. Booth took in a shuddered breath and carefully rested his forehead on the silky fabric over her stomach while she continued to caress his head.

"Booth... I've never done this and I've never felt like this before. Sometimes it's so overwhelming that I can barely breathe. You have to help me, you have to show me how to do this right. I don't know if I can make it alone. When I'm about to do something very stupid, you have to tell me because I don't want to lose you. You're too important to me."

Her voice sounded vulnerable but sincere, and Booth slowly encircled her waist with his arms.

"You just decided that in the tub? I should run you a bath more often," he murmured into her belly.

"So you still want me?"

Booth looked up at her and found a disarming smile on her face.

"Are you kidding me?"

He leaned backwards, opened his arms for her, and she crawled onto his lap, melting perfectly into his body. They lay still for a moment, just holding each other, and then Brennan placed a kiss on his temple and continued her earlier caresses.

"Booth, I know you're strong, and even though I've just admitted that I might need your help from time to time, it doesn't mean I am willing to be the weak part in this. We're equal. Sometimes you have to let me hold you and catch you as well. Not literally of course," she added matter-of-factly.

This time Booth didn't use the opportunity to tease her but simply accepted her words. "I think we have to learn together then, Temperance."

He gave her a warming smile, and she traced his lips with her fingertips; they felt like soft petals. She wanted to kiss him and realized with sudden joy that she was probably allowed to do it.

"Just to be sure, Booth, I can kiss you now, right?"

"Always."

So she did. Her dainty hands enfolded his handsome face, and Brennan brushed her expectant lips over Booth's stubbly cheek before they finally reached his waiting mouth. The combination of rough facial hair and smooth skin created a pleasant stir in her stomach. His lips parted at her touch, and her tongue made contact with his, stroking it lovingly. Booth wanted to grab her and kiss her senselessly, but he remembered her words about equality. He still couldn't believe that she had come to him – that she had finally found her way into his arms – and he surrendered himself to her rhythm. He met her stroke for stroke and gently sucked at her lower lip as his hands roamed over her delicate back. The texture of the silky robe felt almost rough under his fingertips, but his palms slid effortlessly all the way from her gorgeous neck down her spine and back. He could feel the smooth skin of her thighs where his shirt had ridden up and sunk into the cushions even further, taking her with him. With a last caress she released his swollen lips and pressed her porcelain cheek into his.

"That was nice."

'I love you,' Booth wanted to say, but he bit his lip to keep the dangerous words inside. He had known about his feelings for a long time; he had known he would die for her, kill for her, but he realized that even he had underestimated how much he really cared for her. Until now. A wave of protectiveness, possessiveness and warmth rushed through his body – so deep and strong that even the concept of love sounded too weak to describe it. Booth wasn't a man of tears, but right now he felt a knot in his throat, and his eyes got wet. He pulled her close and almost crushed her neat frame with his forceful embrace.

"I need you so much, Temperance, please don't ever change your mind."

His voice sounded raw, and she freed herself to look into his eyes. What she found there melted her heart. "Oh Booth," she placed her palm over his heartbeat.

"I'm here to catch you, remember?"

He couldn't find any words – and then she hugged him, tried to reassure him with the weight of her body on his own.

"I won't go away, and even though it is illogical and impossible to promise, I feel that I won't change my mind."

He found her lips and this time he kissed her with a hunger as raw as his feelings. Brennan met him again, solid and strong in his arms. 'I have you,' she thought before he took her breath away one more time. Soft moans turned into winded groans, the rustling of silk mingled with the cracks of the dry wood in the fireplace, and the little cabin filled with warmth.

When they looked at each other again, her ponytail was just a shadow of its former self. The tie of her robe had loosened, and Booth could see the uncovered curve of her white shoulder. She looked so fair, so beautiful, and he felt a desire to run his fingers through her shimmering tresses. Carefully he removed her hair tie, letting the auburn mass fell down. He looked at her in awe, brushed a curl out of her face and let his fingers float through the silky strands, all the way up and down. When he made contact with her scalp, he started to massage it gently, and Brennan closed her eyes. She arched into his touch, a rapturous smile enchanted her face, and her lips parted in a content sigh.

She almost sat upright now, and the picture of her straddling his lap – shadows of her long lashes on her rosy cheeks – reminded him of the eroticism of a Greek marble statue. Booth raised his body from the cushions and brought his lips to her collar bone, gently nibbling on the soft flesh there. He felt her arms wrap around his shoulders as she tried to support his sitting position, and he was delighted to find out that she wanted this as much as he did. Slowly he ran his tongue from her collarbone to her throat and along her jaw line. She smelled like lavender and something that was simply her – for him it was the scent of heaven. She tasted salty and sweet at the same time. He softly bit into her earlobe, and when he cradled her neck with his big hands, the robe revealed more of her gorgeous shoulders. More milky white skin for him to taste and fondle, more Bones for him to revel in. He searched her eyes, seeking permission, and found her smiling.

"Oh, Bones, you are so beautiful."

This time she didn't blush, but she felt the need to correct him.

"No, Booth, this is beautiful."

With her acceptance Booth resumed his worshipping of her body and placed his lips on her throat once again. This time he traveled further down to her sternum, placed a kiss over her heart and felt its beat under his sensitive tongue. His fingers caressed the soft hair on her neck and wandered to her shoulders, gently brushing the silky fabric away. When the robe slid down her arms and revealed her breasts for the first time, both stilled. Booth took in the sight of her bare chest; round, soft and pale with a slight glow of pink. All the time Brennan watched her partner, and if his glance hadn't been so full of pure admiration, she would have felt self-conscious under its intensity.

"Oh, Temperance," he finally sighed, "this is exactly what I wanted to do last time," and with this words he lowered his mouth to her nipple and started to lick and suck her very gently. His actions met her by surprise – a loud gasp left her mouth as a rush of electricity shot from her breast directly to her core, and she could feel wetness gathering between her legs. 'He is good at this,' she thought as she fought against the dizziness. Slowly but determined she tugged at his head and forced him to look at her.

"Equals, remember?"

He gave her an understanding look and raised his arms so that she could pull of his tee. He was so muscular, so strong, and now it was her turn to stare in admiration. Her eyes found the scar where he had taken a bullet for her, and something pulled at her heart. She brought her lips to this place next to his shoulder and kissed the silvery, renewed skin there.

"Don't do that ever again, Booth, how could I possibly live with the knowledge that you died for me?"

He would do it again, in a heartbeat, but he didn't want to upset her and just nodded. She ran her fingers from his chest to his ribcage, all the time smooth skin under her digits, and with a last thought of equality her lips closed over his dark nipple. It hardened instantly under her demanding mouth, and he groaned with delight. She teased him until he couldn't take it anymore, and soon she was flipped around on the couch. She was beneath him now, and her legs opened immediately for his hips, giving him better access. Booth gently removed the robe from her lower arms; his palms roamed from her shoulders to her wrists, and he linked his fingers with hers.

"Are you in this with me, Temperance?"

Her bright blue eyes answered his question even before she spoke.

"I'm here, Booth, I'm really and truly here."

"Do you know what's happening?"

"I know."

"Good."

He leaned in for another kiss, full of promise and passion. His hands released hers and wandered to her hips, where he gently held her in place as he rocked against her for the first time. She felt his masculinity and body heat through the remaining layer of clothes, and the brush of the fabric heightened her arousal even further. She squirmed under his movement and wanted to get closer to him.

Booth loved this. He loved kissing her, touching her; he loved how her skin felt under his fingers. She was so amazingly responsive, so open, and he fought against the aching hardness in his body which screamed for release. He wanted to do this right; he wanted to enjoy her as long as he could. When the need for air became impossible to ignore, he released her lips, took a deep breath and started to lick and explore her body once again. He traveled down until he knelt on the floor between her legs, and her soft stomach was under his mouth. His tongue dipped into her navel – which elicited a moan from her throat and made her hips buckle – and he released the ties of her robe until she lay in front of him in nothing more than black panties and her funny socks. With a low chuckle he removed the latter to free her feet. He wanted to memorize that picture of her for eternity, so he took his time to study her almost naked body. Her beautiful breasts were quaking under her unsteady breaths, the muscles of her stomach were tense in anticipation, and he could spot dampness between her legs that filled him with primitive pride. He had done this to her. Booth traced the hem of her underwear with his thumbs and places soft kisses on the insides of her thighs.

"I love this, Temperance," he admitted, "and you were right. This is beautiful, but believe me, so are you."

He brushed a finger over the lace of her panties, and she shivered under his touch.

"You are the most stunning woman I've ever seen in my life. You drive me crazy."

He could smell her arousal, and the alpha male inside of him wanted to take her, bury himself deep inside her. Booth resisted the temptation and placed a kiss on her underwear, directly over her most sensitive part. She almost whimpered. It was his undoing, and he sucked her hard through the black fabric.

"Booth," she tried to form coherent words as her body trembled, "please, you don't have to do this."

He soothed his onslaught with a soft blow of cool air.

"I want to. Please, Baby, let me do this. I need to know how you taste."

He tried to pour his soul into his eyes. She nodded weakly before her head fell back into the cushions, and Temperance Brennan, woman of science and control, finally offered herself to her partner.

He gently pulled her underwear down her legs, and then she was naked; gloriously naked. She looked so fragile, and Booth was deeply touched as he reached upwards again. He brushed his fingertip over her lips – she briefly caught it with her tongue – and let his palm rub from her chest to her center in one strong motion. Then he was back between her knees, inhaled her scent deeply, and his mouth closed over her. She panted, and his hands captured her sides to steady her restless hips. His tongue ran over her in sensual strokes – eager to taste her, eager to touch her as intimately as possible, eager to make Temperance Brennan forget her name. He drew a horizontal eight over her sensitive flesh - 'Infinity, Baby,' he thought – all the time avoiding the one part where she yearned for his touch the most. She arched her back to get closer to him, and finally his lips found the little nub that burned like fire. He kissed, licked and sucked her until she could barely take it anymore, and her moans turned into pleas for him to stop. His own erection was throbbing painfully as he moved back on top of her – never before had pleasuring a woman aroused him so deeply. She was breathless, her eyes wild, and he gently cupped her cheek.

"Is everything okay, Temperance, did I do something wrong? Do you," he swallowed with worry, "do you want me to stop? You know, we don't have to do this now, it's all right."

Booth tried to fix whatever was wrong, but Brennan shook her head vigorously.

"Yes, no. Ah, Booth, too many questions. I'm fine, that was," she breathed, "unbelievably so, but I really want you inside me now, please?"

"Oh, Baby..."

He kissed her; she could taste herself on his lips, and the intimacy of that filled her with profound longing. She reached down, squeezed him through his pants, and his body reacted with a thrust before he could think. He groaned and bit into her shoulder.

"If you don't stop this, it could take a while until I can fulfill your wish, Temperance."

She smiled seductively. "I'm an anthropologist, Booth, I know how much you can take, trust me," and with one last squeeze she added teasingly, "Baby."

"Somehow I knew you wouldn't like that name, but," 'two can play the game,' he thought, as he pressed a finger into her overheated flesh, "it took you some time to get used to 'Bones' as well. Baby."

He gasped as he felt her fingernails run over his shaft, and in response his thumb brushed over her clit.

"Truce?"

She nodded enthusiastically, and together they made quick work of his remaining clothes. Then she saw him for the first time. It didn't surprise her that this part of his body was just like the rest of Booth: strong, solid and smooth. She let her fingers slide over his velvet heat – luxuriated in the firm softness – and he groaned almost desperately. His eyes searched hers, and she nodded.

"Yes. And don't worry, I am safe. I trust you."

She opened her legs even wider for him and welcomed his body on top of her. He nestled into her, and both gasped at the first contact. Booth took her face in his hand, locked his eyes with hers – and the earth stilled as he entered her in one long motion. Heat pulsated deep inside of her as her body enveloped his masculinity in an embrace known by men and women since the beginning of time. It felt so good, so right that her lids almost closed at the overwhelming sensation of him finally inside of her, and Brennan had to force herself to maintain eye contact. She saw him struggling with his own emotions, and the affection on his face touched her deeply. 'This is how making love feels,' she thought, and finally she understood her partner. He had to kiss her, and when he was sure that she had adjusted to his size, he slowly began to move. 'I'm making love to Temperance Brennan,' he wondered in awe before every coherent notion left his mind. She felt wonderful, and he wanted to bury himself in her welcoming warmth forever. With every stroke her inner walls were squeezing him, and her hands came around his back to pull him even deeper inside her body. He kissed her in unison with his strokes, and Brennan could feel the tension building in her stomach.

"Oh, Booth."

"Yes," he gasped, "I know."

He moved too carefully; she didn't want him to hold back.

"Let it go, Booth, I want this. I promise I won't break or run."

He moaned helplessly at her words, grabbed her hips and started to pump into her without finesse. Her head rolled from side to side, offering creamy white skin to him. When Booth's teeth sank into her neck, every nerve ending in her body screamed for more. She wrapped her legs around his back, and he was able to thrust stronger. More warmth, more friction, more Brennan. In rapture close to frenzy he found her mouth again, challenged her tongue and claimed her as his. Booth knew that he couldn't last much longer and prayed that she was close as well. He supported most of his weight on his elbows and brought his arms under her back to pull her close. Her gorgeous breasts were in reach to his lips now, and he sucked one hard nipple into his mouth as he continued to fill her with his thrusts. The added stimulation made her shiver violently – and suddenly she saw stars as wave over wave of the sweetest ecstasy rolled through her body. Brennan almost cried, and her inner muscles pulled him deeper and deeper until she couldn't tell anymore where she ended and he began. Booth was lost, his eyes turned black, and for the first time his body found release inside his partner. He clang to her for dear life, gave everything he had to give before he collapsed with a final thrust on top of her. Brennan embraced him with trembling legs and wobbly arms, reluctant to let go, and they breathed heavily as silence settled over them.

-BONES-

For maybe the first time in her adult life Temperance Brennan was speechless. Never before had she felt such a close connection to another person. She looked at Booth's head, resting peacefully on her chest, and wiped a sheen of sweat from his forehead. Her gesture was full of awe, full of the sweet familiarity of newfound lovers; she felt an emotion running through her body so pure and warm, and suddenly she could name it.

She just knew.

He opened his eyes to look at her, and she smiled languorously at her partner.

"Hi, Booth."

"Hi, Bones," he beamed back at her.

"Am I crushing you?"

"A little," she admitted," but I like it. Please stay."

She wanted to hold onto that perfect moment just a little bit longer, and apparently he felt the same way because at her words he snuggled back between her breasts.

"Did we break the laws of physics?"

She remembered his words, spoken so long ago, and how impossible that experience had seemed to her then. It still made no sense, but she could understand him now and answered without hesitation, "We did."

Booth was empty and full at the same time. He could feel himself shrink inside of her, but he refused to leave her body right now. From time to time her muscles contracted in the afterglow of their union, and he could feel her wetness which was now his own as well. He believed in making love – always had – but never before a sexual act had been this precious to him. It was her, he thought. It had to be special because she was. He didn't feel the need to be strong right now, and as he was lying there on her warm body, in her perfect embrace, it felt as if she was his anchor.

It was just like she had said: He had caught her, and she had caught him.

Just like that they had become one.