"Huh..?" is all he can choke out.
He really tries to listen...but it's impossible to focus on anything his partner says. At least not right now. No matter how hard he tries, his focus keeps snapping back to that dress.
That smokin` hot, short, navy blue satin dress.
It has thin spaghetti straps, lying on the fair skin of her shoulders. The material flows perfectly around every curve of her body, ending mid thigh. As if that wasn't hot enough... she wears black stiletto heels that make her legs look endless.
Actually, it isn't the dress itself that keeps him from focusing.. though, he has to admit it is gorgeous. But no, the real tease is the woman in the dress. Booth is not used to seeing so much skin of his partner. Normally dressed in jeans, blouse and lab-coat.
When he saw her enter the Jeffersonian anniversary banquet earlier this evening, he was literally stunned. He hadn't expected her to come at all... Angela must have forced her..
There she was, looking incredibly sexy. He had seen her body before..after five years of working together, and now spending most of their free time together as well, they have gotten pretty comfortable around each other. Though there was always enough respect and self control left to keep himself from ogling her... too much..
She had a distant look on her face, when she entered the big ballroom, but he could see the effort she made to act happy, to not let her best friend down. Angela had quite obviously invested a lot of time in getting ready and persuading Brennan to come along.
For about twenty minutes he kept staring at her from the bar. His eyes never leaving her, following her every move. Booth watched her make conversation with some benefactors, most of them were older women, dragging their husbands along with them.
Brennan didn't want to be there in the first place. But after being persuaded by her very ´convincing´ best friend she finally had agreed, under the condition that she could leave as soon as the speeches were held and everyone was basically just getting drunk. That's how it ended every year...all of the usually so professional scientists and benefactors took the opportunity to let loose and turn the classy and elegant banquet into a huge party.
After shaking a lot of hands and participating in conversations either about her work or the Jeffersonian's cooperation with the FBI, she decided she needed a break. All the questions about her ´amazing´ and ´hot´ partner really annoyed her. Not because she didn't want to talk about him, she loved talking about him and all of his accomplishments. She was proud of him and of course she also thought he was hot and amazing. She never would've admitted it though.
The reason she she needed a break was because she missed him. It was ridiculous, they've seen each other just hours before, at work. But those kind of events are always more bearable with him. Sometimes, when they got to dance together it could even be really fun.
She excused herself from the current conversation and went to go to the bar.
That's when their eyes met.
Booth had to catch his breath. The intensity of her eyes was almost too much for him. Brennan saw him standing there, rooted to the spot, mouth slightly agape. Looking at each other from across the room, neither of them was able to take their gaze off the other.
She wondered why he hadn't talked to her since he clearly must've seen her before...Was he mad at her? But, not trying to jump to any conclusions, she began walking towards him.
As he realized she was coming closer, Booth immediately tried to erase all of the dirty fantasies that came rushing in his mind as soon as he saw her tonight. He knew it was wrong to think of his partner and best friend in various sexual scenarios, but he couldn't help it. Compartmentalizing his feelings for her on a daily basis has definitely taken its toll on him. So, since acting out his fantasies was not really an option right now, he decided that thinking about it wouldn't harm anyone, except for himself maybe, because he got turned on in very inconvenient situations lately.. It was only a matter of time until someone noticed it. And he sure as hell hoped it wouldn't be her.
Like right now. Turned on and completely lost in his thoughts. He had to shake his head back into reality just to realize that she had made it all the way over and is now standing in front of him.
Her lips are moving...she is definitely talking...about what? No idea.
Suddenly she stops talking and looks expectantly at him.
"Huh..?" is all he can choke out.
"Booth? Is everything okay? You seem to be distracted by something."
Booth knows that Brennan considers her people reading skills below average. It´s one of the very few things she doesn't exceed at. Right now though, it dawns on him just how good she has become at reading him.
Of course he is distracted. But she doesn't have to know why. Probably would kick his ass if she found out.
"Nah Bones don't worry about it, I'm fine."
"Are you sure? Your face is flushed and your breathing is accelerated. "
"..ah.. No, It's nothing, just a little hot in here, don't you think?"
"Yes, considering the amount of people, and the limited power of the air conditioning unit-"
"I get it.. many people, not enough fresh air. Want to step outside and cool down a little?"
Smiling a little self conscious at her.
Relieved to get away from the people for a while, she nods.
"Yes, please. Despite my knowledge of how important the donations from the banquet are, I'm afraid I'm going to hurt somebody if I have to talk any longer to the benefactors."
Chuckling at her lack of patience when it comes to conversations.
"That bad, huh? Come on lets go out on the terrace."
With his hand firmly placed at its dedicated spot on the small of her back, he lead her out onto the roof terrace of the Jeffersonian's ballroom. It was already dark outside, and the lights of the city created a beautiful contrast to the almost black night sky.
They make their way across the terrace, passing by some more benefactors and a few already drunk couples, making out in the corners next to the entrance.
Brennan ends up leading Booth to a corner of the terrace which is a little cut off from the rest of it by a bunch of huge plants. It used to be her place of rescue at this kind of events, before she had any friends here.
It is the outer corner of the building, so on both sides was nothing but the stunning view of the city skyline and all its sparkling lights.
The only thing audible are occasional sirens in the distance and the sound of muffled music from the ballroom.
"Wow this place is beautiful!" Booth says as Brennan leads him around a potted plant.
"Yes, it really is. Booth..why didn't you come and talk to me?" Her curiosity got the best of her, she wants to know why he hadn't talked to her earlier, when he had clearly seen her. Maybe he was mad after all?
"Wait. What do you mean?" He knows exactly what she means. But how could he explain to her that he was so stunned that he couldn't move towards her and instead spent twenty minutes staring at her?
"You were looking at me before I saw you. Why didn't you come over? Are you mad at me?" Her eyes show mixed emotions of confusion and worry that she might have done something wrong.
"No! No, I'm not mad. I'm sorry... I don't know... I guess I just didn't want to interrupt your conversation. It looked like you were doing fine." An apologetic look on his face while going with his hand nervously through his hair.
She feels relieved because he is not mad, but at the same time chastises herself for overreacting. Compartmentalizing used to be her forte, but since she recognized her attraction towards her partner, it has become harder. She has to remind herself that he doesn't want her. He is her best friend, acting on her physical desire would be too much of a risk. The last thing she wants is to lose him. Which she is certain she would, since he does not reciprocate any of those feelings.
"Oh... I'm sorry for overreacting. It has been a stressful evening."
They move towards the railing, standing next to each other, both looking over the beautiful city.
"Don't worry about it. I know you didn't want to come. If it means anything, I think you're doing amazing. And Cam is probably very thankful that you made it, too."
"Thank you Booth. Yes, I think Cam was surprised to see me tonight. Angela convinced me to come, something to do with a `girl law`?"
Smirking Booth answers.
"Yea Bones, I think you mean girl code."
"Whatever." She rolls her eyes at him but the slight smile on her face speaks otherwise.
After the initial relief to get some fresh air, Brennan now begins to feel cold, but doesn't want to go back inside. She start shivering and hugs her arms closely around herself.
"Bones you're cold, let's get back inside."
"No, just a few minutes longer. Please, Booth." A pleading look on her face.
"Okay fine... But please let me..."
Booth wraps his arm around her to keep her warm. The side of her body is now pressed into his. He has to stop himself from shivering, not from the cold, but from the overwhelming closeness to his partner. Her perfume mixed with her own scent makes him almost feel dizzy.
Focusing his gaze onto the skyline, he tries to avoid thinking about her proximity, how good it feels to have her so close, and how good it would be to have her even closer, preferably in private, in his bed. No matter how hard he tries to keep these thoughts at bay, it is simply impossible. He wants her. And it´s getting harder to control himself.
That's when she decides to turn and wrap her arms around his waist underneath his jacket, her head resting on his chest. Their bodies now flush against each other.
Booth's senses are being overflowed with input. Her scent, the way she looks in that dress and now her body being pressed against him. Feeling the swell of her breasts and her, due to the cold, hardened nipples pressed to his chest. It's too much for him. He can feel his heartbeat quicken, his breathing becoming uneven... and when she shifts slightly in his arms, he cannot control his body's reaction.
He tries to turn his hips away from her body to hide the growing bulge in his pants.
Brennan, thinking he tries to move away from her, tightens her grip on his waist. His erection now firmly pressed into her lower stomach. Booth can´t help but gasp at the contact.
As soon as the realization of what's happening hits her, she stiffens in his arms. But not for long. Removing her head from his chest, a smirk on her face, she looks up at him.
Booth immediately blushes. He looks slowly down at her face, expecting to see her angry and ready to kick his ass. But when he sees her face, he has a feeling of what she is going to say next.
"...Bones...I'm..I'm so sorry."
"Booth.. don't worry, It´s a totally normal bodily function, triggered by-"
"Don't. I should leave now..."
He loosens her grip and moves away from her, leaving her dumbstruck by his reaction. Brennan is left alone on the terrace in total confusion. What has just happened?