CHAPTER 13: Holding On

AN: Sorry about the delay in updates, I've been pretty busy. This chapter is going to be bordering on M rated. Again, thanks for the reviews.

A tear rolled down her cheek, as Temperance watched the limo pull down the long driveway. She new that sending Parker away was for the best, but the less rational part of her mind told her that she was the only one that could protect him.

Coming up behind her, Booth put a hand on her shoulder. Without a word, she turned into his arms, and buried her face in his chest. Letting out a broken sob, Temperance brought her hands up to rest on his lower back.

Kissing the top of her head, he told her, "Will catch him, Bones. And when we do, Parker will come home. Then we can begin our lives… together." Together. That one word gave her hope. Throughout this whole ordeal, she had secretly feared that once the threat was eliminated; she and Booth would go back to being merely friends. She didn't know if she could handle that. It seemed so natural to step into his arms. His touch comforted her in ways she never thought possible. Hell, she didn't even mind that she was relinquishing some of her independency.

"I know."

Their gazes locked, and heat rippled between them in waves, like embers of a fire flickering into a flame. Then she licked her lips, and moved her hand up his chest… and he was lost.

Booth lowered his head and claimed her mouth, a fierce hunger rising in him from the depths of his soul. He had never tasted a woman who ignited such desire. Never had a woman's lips felt so soft and supple. Never had he ached to bury himself inside a woman so deeply that it physically hurt to restrain himself.

Her hand slid though his hair, and her mouth moved beneath his. A low throaty sound floated up from her as he cupped her face with his hands. His mind argued that they had to stop, she was injured and didn't need him pawing at her. He just didn't have the strength to walk away just yet. Instead, he caressed her cheek with his fingers, as he nibbled her luscious lower lip, then one hand slid down her back over the sweet curve of her hip, and dragged her body closer to his. As her breast pressed against his chest, his sex throbbed, straining toward her.

For a brief second, Booth entertained the idea of ripping her clothes off and taking her right their, but sanity grabbed a hold of his balls and yanked hard. Temperance was not in the condition to be ravished. He could wait… if he had his way, they'd have the rest of their lives for that.

Breaking the kiss, he gasped for breath. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize for kissing me senseless." She murmured unevenly, trying to return her heart beat to it normal rhythm. "For a few moments, you took away all my pain, and all my fear." Meeting his eyes, she told him, "You make me forget all that I've been through."

He was totally floored by her admission, and humbled at the same time. Brushing her hair out off her forehead, he asked, "do you have any idea how much power you hold over me?"

"Yes." She answered, "because I feel it to." Shaking her head she went on. "All my life I've closed myself off from others. The pain of losing my parents was the catalyst for locking myself in a self imposed prison. But then you came along, Seeley Booth. You made me open up to you… made me trust you."

A smile touched his lips. "You make it sound like a bad thing."

"It's terrifying." She whispered.

"Why?" Booth asked, frowning.

"I've never felt like this. And I don't even know what it means. All I know is that you are last thought in my head as I fall asleep, and the first thing I see when I wake up." Reaching up she placed a hand against his cheek. "And when you are hurting, I am hurting too. You have the power to break me, Booth… and I have given it to you. That is what is terrifying."

His breath caught in his throat. Was she telling him that she loved him? "I would never hurt you." Was all he could say, and it came out barely above a whisper.

Tears sprang to her eyes, and it made her feel weak. She had cried more during this last week that she had in her whole life. She began to turn away, embarrassed, when Booth caught her chin with his forefinger and thumb, tilting her face to meet his eyes.

"Talk to me, Bones."

"Booth, I can't start something with you if…" Her voice trailed off.

"If what?" He pressed.

Wiping her eyes, she tried again. "If we start this, and you decide it's not what you want. I won't have the strength to walk away. It—it will break my heart, and I don't know if I'd ever recover from that. I am already a broken person Booth, I don't think I could piece myself back together again."

Watching his eyes blur, she felt like a louse. "Damn it Temperance. Do you really think I would do that to you? You may not know what all of this means—but I do. It's called love. I know it, because that's how I feel about you. I love you. Even though you're a pain in the ass, and I want to throttle you half the time… I love you."

Temperance stood up on tip toes and pressed her mouth against his. She put all her fear, and all her desire in the kiss.

Booth picked her up and carried her to the couch, never breaking contact with her lips. Laying her on the couch gently, he propped himself above her, careful of her ribs.

Praying he wouldn't hurt her, he traced a finger along her cheek, loving the silkiness of her skin. Lowering his head, he reclaimed her lips. Hunger surged through his bloodstream, so powerful that he sighed into her mouth and thrust his tongue between her lips to taste her. She met his need with her own, deepening the kiss and spearing her hands along his shoulder blades. When she pushed at his shirt with her good hand, he hissed between his teeth, then sat up and tore the garment off, and flung it on the floor. He met her eyes, and saw his own passion reflected in their depths.

Slowly his sanity returned, and flopped beside her on the oversized couch. "We can't Temperance. I don't want to hurt you." Placing a soft kiss on her lips, he said, "but we will. Soon. Until then… Just let me hold you."

Sighing with resignation, she made herself comfortable in his embrace. He began rubbing her back, in a rhythmic motion that made her grow sleepy.

Right before she surrendered to sleep, that was pulling at her, she said, "Booth?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you, too."

She said it with her eyes closed, on the verge of slumber, so she never saw the smile that spread across his face.

Not much action in this chapter, but I had to give them a little quality time.

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