The Rings in the Heart

Chapter 5 – Sweet seduction

Disclaimer: BONES does not belong to me. *sniff, sniff; sob*

A/N: Sorry about the delay. A four letter word is responsible *WORK*

Seeley Booth was enjoying the company of two of his very favourite things in life. Bones, who was leaning up against his side encircled by his arm, and the homemade apple pie on the plate just placed in front of him. The past couple of weeks of his life had been more challenging than he could have imagined, yet more rewarding than he could have ever dared to dream. Booth had taken on many roles and responsibilities in his lifetime, cop, soldier, son, father, friend, parent, lover…in most cases, relying upon his natural gifts, instincts and training to succeed. The escalation of his relationship with Bones represented the ultimate challenge to him, the fruition of years of delayed gratification and the sublimation of many of his alpha male instincts towards her. Booth had fears for them both, and they were real enough to give him cold sweats when he awoke day after day, finding himself still in bed next to her. He likened his fear to that of caring for Parker as a tiny baby, such was the juxtaposition of fragility against the robust promise of new life, a new future.

Their waitress topped up their coffee cups as Booth savoured each mouthful of pie, absently rubbing his hand over the back of his partner, friend, lover, soul mate. Each time his hand ventured away from the long-established safety zone at the small of her back, Booth received the ultimate positive feedback – he was the luckiest guy in the world.

Brennan added sugar to her coffee and stirred absently; reveling in the mute comfort and solidarity transmitted in a simple touch. They were in this together. Their joint decision to commit to a longer term experiment in the absence of reasons not to do so, and the presence of a shed-load of alcohol had turned out to be exactly what was required. The following day, paradoxically sated and shell-shocked, they had simply got up and moved on – together. The experiment was in fact a social contract, created bespoke in terms that were acceptable to them both; and particularly to her as the token rationalist in the relationship. Having now christened every room of their respective apartments, she was looking forward to their first night alone tonight in a new place. It could have only been better if they had to go undercover. She gave a small shiver of excitement, as she outwardly observed the slowly shrinking slice of pastry encased cooked fruit, feeling irrationally envious of the attention that Booths' mouth was paying to it.

"Want some?" asked Booth, proffering some of his dessert on his fork. She turned her head away from the pie instinctively, wrinkling her nose up.

"According to Sweets, the offer of pie is an attempt to seduce me. We both know that that is not necessary, nor am I likely to develop any affinity for cooked fruit. Besides, the look that you are directing at me right now is sufficient to attract my attention" replied Brennan, placing her lips just above the edge of her coffee cup and blowing on the surface of the black liquid. She took an experimental sip.

"Hmm…" considered Booth, watching her lips tease the edge of the coffee cup, while he twirled the now empty fork between them. "Pie or Bones. Choices. Do I have to choose?" he put a little Parker-whine into his voice.

She smiled and took another sip of her coffee before placing the cup down on the table. Her now free hand snatched the fork from his hand, while leaning in toward his ear to murmur her response.

"The logic is simple Booth , I can help you with that decision."

Booth brushed his lips over hers in a ghost of a kiss. "But nothing is simple when it comes to you Temperance. It's a no-brainer" he commented as he pecked her lips a little more firmly.

"That is completely counterintuitive, but while you are in the process of actively seducing me, Sweets and his theories about pie have no validity" responded Brennan as she moved to tease his earlobe with her lips. Her words were squinty 'sweet nothings' to his ears.

With permission for active seduction granted, Seeley Booth got to work on a serious kiss whilst their coffee grew cold. What the hell did a twelve year-old know about seduction anyway?

Brennan looped her arm through Booths as they walked though the parking lot toward the SUV. After a simple roadside diner meal and a mutually satisfactory dessert, they were both feeling refreshed and almost ready to tackle the final leg of their journey to the crime scene.

"Your gait indicates that your back is troubling you again Booth" Brennan commented, giving his arm a squeeze.

"Can't hide anything from you, can I Bones?" said Booth with a small grin.

"Not where your body is concerned. The combination of our intimacy and my advanced training in human movement renders you powerless against me" she teased.

"You can say that again" admitted Booth as he pointed the keychain at the SUV to unlock the doors.

Brennan grabbed Booths' arm and forced him up against the door of the vehicle and she took his face in her hands.

"Please tell me why I have to say it again? Are you experiencing difficulties with your hearing Booth? We should attend the nearest hospital to arrange a PET scan of your brain" asserted Brennan wearing an expression of anguish, which was highlighted by the harsh lighting of the parking lot.

Booth pulled her into a rough hug and murmured into her hair "No, no, no, Bones. It's just an expression. It didn't mean…"

Brennan flailed a fist into his chest and gave an involuntary sigh of relief.

"Is your open heart troubling you Bones?" he asked.

She lifted her head from his chest and gave him a challenging look that softened as their eyes met.

"Perhaps" hedged Brennan unconvincingly. "I find myself irrationaly overprotective of your welfare. But I am confident that you can assist me through this Booth."

Booth applied his sovereign remedy to the situation by attempting to kiss her concerns into submission; Brennan retaliated by pushing him against the body of SUV enthusiastically. A crunch and sharp click emanated from Booths' lumbar region.

"Wow!" exclaimed Booth as he broke their kiss in surprise. He placed his hands flat against the vehicle and levered himself upright.

"You experienced a partial release of your lumbar misalignment?" asked Brennan.

Booth gave a smile and a wink as he brushed the side of her face with his hand.

"How about that, Bones? It's still a little tight, but the pain is practically gone" he reported, handing over the keys to the vehicle. "Baby, you can throw me up against a car anytime."

"The effects of alcohol and the sudden extension of your spine against the body of the SUV must have been responsible. I will give the area a deep tissue massage when we arrive in Pittsylvania. And don't call me Baby!" warned Brennan with a small smile as she tool the proffered keys.