TITLE: Nothing Personal
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I didn't intend to get the sixth chapter done so quickly (or to post it so quickly), but what can I say? The more reviews I get, the more I'm inspired to keep right on truckin'. You guys rule all. Oh yeah, and we're definitely back in M-rating territory, here. FINALLY. Jeez. I had a little chat with the muse about tossing in some BB-love. After much struggling, she agreed, and here's the result:

The eerie yellow moonlight was gone. The chirping of the crickets had been replaced by the chirping of the birds. There was no longer a reason to be irrationally afraid... especially not while Temperance Brennan was safely enclosed in the arms of her partner, Seeley Booth. She felt the sun behind her closed eyes and stirred, not wanting to succumb to a state of wakefulness just yet.

She'd woken up right away all her life -- whether it was her radio alarm or biological alarm rousing her from sleep. For now, it just felt good to remain in limbo... in that pleasant, fuzzy place between sleeping and waking. She felt Booth's warm body shift behind her... felt his lips press against the back of her neck, and she fought the gasp. Did he know she was awake? Was he even awake?

She felt his nose rub back and forth against the base of her neck, an -- what did Angela call it once? -- an 'Eskimo kiss'? His body slid downward and the gentle kisses and nuzzles continued along her spine. Tempe's skin tingled with each touch, the tingles spreading to every point on her body until a dull ache began. His lips touched the place where her skin boasted dimples on her lower back, on each side of her spine... and this time she couldn't hold it in -- she gasped.

Tempe could have sworn she felt him smile against her skin as he continued planting kisses in that highly sensitized area, each scrape of his lips sending a bolt of arousal straight to her core. His palm curved around her waist, to her abdomen, where his fingers spread against her skin. Booth held her as he kissed his way back up her spine, moving her hair out of the way to plant kisses along the curve of her neck.

She choked back a moan and fought the urge to reach back and just grab him for a kiss... almost wanting to pretend she was still asleep. She kept her eyes buttoned closed and waited, anticipating what he would do next. She still felt his smile against her skin, then let out another gasp as the tip of his tongue traced down her neck, flicking at the hollow of her shoulder.

Tempe squirmed against him -- not in protest, but in ecstasy -- and felt his prominent arousal against the small of her back. Booth had to know she was awake. She knew him well enough to know he would never take advantage of her in this way unless he knew she was awake. That thought was confirmed as he leaned up to take her earlobe between his lips, breathing, "Good morning."

"Time to get up," she hummed, though her heart and body ached to be one with his again.

Apparently, he was rather adept at mind-reading, because he rolled her onto her back and shook his head at her. "Not yet." A roguish grin spread across his lips and Tempe damned her weak soul for wanting to melt at the sight.

Booth slid his hand down the center of her body, his fingers toying with the hem of her camisole... and her mind screamed at her to fight him. There was still work to be done, still a case to be solved. But her body and heart were begging her to give in. He'd been so good to her lastnight... tending to her wounds, staying with her when she was battling her irrational fears... but it was getting personal. It was so dangerously close to becoming personal. And he didn't want that, did he?

What Angela had said came back to her -- Booth's not gonna wait around forever for you to get a clue. She didn't know what that meant. Did that mean Booth already had feelings for her, and was waiting for her to catch on?

"Stop it, Bones."

She paused at this. Had she done something? "What?"

He cupped her cheek and turned her eyes to his, smiling down at her. "Analyzing. You do it too much."

She raised an eyebrow. "I'm an anthropologist. It comes with the territory."

"Well for once, stop." Booth leaned over her, bracing himself on his toes and with his hand pressed into the mattress by her head. The other hand was busy pushing her camisole up her body. He tilted his head at her. "Y'know, since we started this, it's been on your terms, and we've gone by your rules. No more."

"What?"

"Today we're gonna go by my rules. And the rules are -- no more rationalizing, no more analyzing." He leaned close to her and nipped at her lips, "just feel," before he seduced her with a deep kiss.

Just feel. Tempe gasped into his mouth and kissed back hungrily, finally disconnecting her mind from her heart and body. Just feel.

And she did. She felt his tongue getting reacquainted with hers... felt him requesting the removal of her shirt... felt herself arching her back to give him what he wanted... felt their lips break apart as he pulled the camisole from her body. She felt his eyes marking her as their lips came together again, his free hand now roaming the newly exposed skin. She gasped when he broke the kiss to lavish her torso with kisses... with little nips and licks. She felt her body jerk in response to the slow seduction.

Tempe felt her heart swell when he looked up and met her eyes while running a finger along the waistband of her satin sleep shorts -- requesting permission to take them off. She nodded in acquiesce and felt his smile pierce her soul, felt her skin jump when he planted kisses around her navel, his hand busy tugging her shorts down. She lifted her hips instinctively, wanting them off just as badly as he did... and she suddenly felt deprived when she noted he still had all his clothes on.

"Not fair," she protested.

He stopped, confused. "What's not?" He looked down at his position, hovering over her body, and threw her a rakish grin. "Told ya already, Bones. I like to be on top."

She shook her head and pushed him off of her, adoring the look of disappointment to cross his features. She smirked and reached for his beater, pulling it over his head. "It's not fair that you have clothing on and I'm stark naked."

"Ah." He nodded slowly, finally understanding... then threw her another grin, this one wide and devilish. "Well, then by all means, let me even things up."

He quickly stripped himself and Tempe shoved away her brain's nagging that she shouldn't stare... instead raking her gaze over all of him. He smiled as if knowing what she was thinking, and returned to her, kissing her lips with urgency. She raked her nails down his back -- he seemed to enjoy that a lot -- as encouragement for him to continue. His hands fervently roamed her body, touching any bit of skin he could reach, and she smiled against his lips.

His kiss then deepened... slowed... as did his caresses. Tempe melted into the pace he was setting, following his lead. "I want this to last," he whispered in her ear before kissing down her jawline.

She pulled back to look into Booth's eyes, and what she saw shining in the sable depths left her speechless. Just because you haven't heard anything doesn't mean he hasn't been trying to tell you anything. This was what Angela had meant. Her heart lurched.

Booth brought their lips together again, the open-mouthed kiss tender and loving but still highly erotic... and Tempe could hear what he was trying to tell her. She saw what Angela had been trying to clue her in to. Booth had feelings for her. "Booth..." the sound came out muffled against his lips.

"Yeah?" He held her bottom lip between his teeth and stroked it playfully with his tongue.

"Since we're playing by your rules... do you have any about making this personal?"

He froze above her, both hands pressed to the mattress on either side of her head. His mouth opened and closed on unformed words, before he finally sputtered out, "It-it won't be, if you don't want it to be. That's my rule on that."

Tempe took a deep breath, suddenly feeling as nervous as a virgin -- and if she was being honest with herself, she didn't even feel this vulnerable when she was a virgin. She exhaled shakily. "What happens, um... if I want it to be?"

Booth searched her eyes, his own twinkling as a slow smile spread across his lips. He leaned down to her, kissing her slowly and sweetly. "Then it will be."

He settled into the cradle of her hips while he continued to kiss her tenderly, and she broke away to cup his face in her hands. "Booth..."

"Yeah?"

She held his gaze as she whispered, "Go slow."

At this, he couldn't help but give a half smirk. He stroked down her body. "Bones, I hate to break it to ya, but... you're not a virgin."

Tempe continued to hold his eyes with her own as she nodded slowly. "Where this is considered? Yes, I am."

And it was true. She'd had sex before -- granted, she hadn't had as many partners as maybe Angela or even Booth -- but this? Making love? She'd never done that before. And where her heart was concerned, she was still a virgin. Her body she'd already given to a man long ago, but never her heart. And, when Booth slid slowly inside of her, their eyes locked, and her heart surrendered to him of its own volition.

They moved together and she gave up the fight. It was one she wouldn't have won, anyway. She should have known falling for Booth would have been inevitable.

He leaned down to bring their lips together and she hooked her arms under his... clasping his shoulders to bring him closer. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight as their hips moved in tandem. Each thrust inside her nudged her a little higher toward the clouds, a feeling she was becoming addicted to. She threw her head back against the pillows and Booth stole the opportunity to cover her exposed throat with kisses.

"You feel so good," he whispered in her ear, and she shivered against him, holding him tighter.

Tempe could feel herself panting now, the exertion of being almost at the brink causing a sweat to break out across her brow. It was almost as if Booth knew... and just before she could reach the crest, he would slow his hips and bring her back down... only to speed up again moments later, trying to send her to oblivion. She was dizzy, intoxicated, feeling pleasure and torture and a million things all at once. She wanted that pleasant euphoria, but at the same time she wanted to be joined with Booth forever... wanted to feel every sensation as long as possible.

She heard his voice again, calling her name -- her first name. "Temperance... open your eyes."

She complied, and when their eyes locked, her mouth gaped. His eyes widened at the look in hers, and he covered her mouth to conceal the loud keening sound that cascaded past her lips. Her entire body convulsed with the force of her climax, and she was positive she would black out for days -- never had she felt anything so intense.

Tempe did black out, but she was sure it was only for a moment, as when she opened her eyes again it was to find a sweat-dusted Booth sprawled bonelessly atop her. She pressed her head back into the pillows again as a satisfied sigh escaped her lips, and she closed her eyes as she raked her fingers through Booth's hair.

"Am I crushing you again?" Booth asked, this time slurring the question into her breasts.

She found herself laughing at his exhausted tone. "Yeah, you are. But I don't want you to leave just yet, so we have a dilemma."

"Good thing I've got a solution." With his arms still wrapped tight around her waist, he flipped them so that he was lying on his back and she was sprawled on top of him.

She laughed again and propped herself up on his chest, leaning her forearms on him while she continued to stroke through his hair. Her grin was ear-to-ear as she repeated her tease from yesterday, "Way to take charge, Booth," and she kissed him.

TBC

MORE Author's Notes: More on the case in the next chapter!