29
Temperance sat looking at the pendant spinning on the chain. Seeley sat softly on the bed next to her. "Is that OK with you, Bones?" he asked, wiping his palms on his jeans.
She looked at him with wide eyes. "Of course it is. I'm…" she said as she felt tears in her eyes. "I'm honored that you trust me with this."
Booth pulled her close and kissed her head. "Did you have a good Christmas?" he asked against her hair.
"The best," she said. They stayed up late, talking softly about Christmases past. Temperance lay and traced patterns on Booth's stomach. "One time I got one of those beginner chemistry sets," she whispered, "and Russ got a BB gun. I told him I was gonna make him poison."
"He believed that?"
"He was eight. I don't even know why my parents thought he should have a BB gun at that age, or why I could have a chemistry set when I was four, but anyway he saw me mixing two liquids and he shot the beaker. I cried and started hitting him. My dad had to pull me off," she laughed.
"What were you making?"
"I don't even remember. It was probably water with food coloring just to scare him." Booth laughed. "I was so mad I punched him."
"Bones!" Booth laughed.
"What? I was only four."
"It's OK, Bones. In fact, I think you going all karate chop on someone is really hot."
"You do?"
"Mmmhmm," he told her, smiling as she brushed her hair away from her face.
"But I thought you liked protecting me."
"I do, but it's hot that you can protect yourself. Makes me want you even more."
"Oh yeah?" she asked seductively.
"Yeah," he said, leaning in for a kiss which she pulled away from. She threw her leg over his hip and ended up on top of him.
"Ha!" she shouted in victory.
Booth moved his hands from her hips to under her shirt and tickled her ribs, eliciting squeals and laughter from her. "What now, Bones?"
"Seeley!" she gasped between laughs.
"Oh no! Who will save you?" he said with mock desperation. Temperance was gasping for breath and he stopped, kissing her by the bellybutton before letting her go.
"I guess in those situations," she started once she had caught her breath, "if I'm somehow incapacitated…I need you to rescue me."
Booth kissed her on the cheek before pulling her to his side. "Good enough for me."
The next morning Temperance managed to free herself from Booth's grasp to take a shower. She had turned off the water and was opening the curtain for her towel when the door opened.
Booth heard two screams and jumped out of bed, pushing Jared out of the way of the bathroom door. Temperance was standing there dripping wet and naked, and Jared was standing there frozen. "Jesus, Bones!" Booth yelled, covering his eyes. She pulled the towel around her and he peeked through his fingers before removing his hands from his face. "Jared-," Booth started.
"I-I'm sorry," Jared stuttered. "I didn't hear the water running and I had to go to the bathroom…" he explained.
"Go downstairs, Jared," Booth told him, embarrassed that Jared had been staring and that he had seen her as well. "I'm sorry, Bones," he said as she dried off behind the curtain.
"Don't worry, Seeley," she told him, emerging again, towel around her now-dry body. Booth wasn't meeting her eyes, and Temperance saw the deep blush on his cheeks. She smiled at his prudence. "Seeley, look at me." He met her eyes and shifted uncomfortably. "Are you going to be uncomfortable for the rest of your life?"
"No. I just feel like I violated your privacy."
She chuckled. "It's OK. I don't feel violated. It's not your fault." Booth nodded but he was still uncomfortable. "What would make you feel better?" she asked.
He took a deep breath and stood up, removing his t-shirt and sweatpants. He met her eyes and she understood what he wanted. She tugged at the waistband of his boxers and he pulled them off. She continued to meet his eyes, only looking at the rest of him when he said, "Bones."
Her breath caught as she took him in quickly. Meeting his eyes again, she pulled on the knot on her towel and let it fall to the floor. Their mouths met hungrily, biting and licking. Booth ran his hands up Temperance's body, causing her to gasp. She pulled him closer by the back of his neck and pressed herself closer. "Seeley," she whispered, and he groaned. She softened her kisses and put her thumb over his lips. His eyes were closed and he let out a ragged breath. "We should stop," she whispered.
He nodded. "I…" he started, but Temperance just smiled. "I'll just get dressed," he finally said, pulling his clothes back on. She wrapped her towel around herself again, and they shared a small smile before he left and closed the door.
