IV.
It was long before Monday noon when Booth loomed at the Jeffersonian, and Brennan almost blushed at the sight of her partner. His white shirt stretched around his shoulders, and all she could think about was the feeling of his strong arms around her, his warm skin underneath her fingertips.
They had a case, and Booth filled her in on the way, but when they arrived at the crime scene, Brennan wouldn't be able to recite a single fact even if her life had depended on it. She could tell, though, that Booth wore a different after-shave today, and the new trace in his scent evoked the desire in her to bury her nose in the crook of his neck and inhale deeply. Of course she didn't act on the impulse, but a sweet ache between her legs dazed every rational thought.
Fortunately, the state of the remains was quite helpful in revealing cause of death, and even one of her students would have spotted that it was, without a doubt, an accident. Still, Brennan needed almost ten minutes to figure out the obvious, and she chastised herself for her lack of focus. Annoyed with herself, Brennan pulled off her gloves with a snap and rose so quickly that she lost balance. Before she could fall into the mud, Booth was by her side and grabbed her arms. The physical contact caused goose bumps all over her skin, and she leaned closer into his body to get one more whiff of his after-shave. 'Hmm, sandalwood and musk.᾽ Eyes she hadn't been aware of closing flew open again, and Brennan stepped away from her tempting partner before she would embarrass herself.
"Everything okay, Bones?"
"I'm fine, Booth. The victim not so much, but at least she wasn't murdered. I believe she slipped and hit her head, but to be one hundred percent sure, I need the remains at the Jeffersonian."
Booth regarded his partner inquiringly; she squirmed, and that was so unlike her. The brief touch had triggered the wish to pull her in his arms, and he felt a tingling sensation as his body reacted to their closeness. He looked at her beautifully flushed face, and in his mind's eye he saw her in the moonlight again, her white blouse halfway open, revealing pale skin to his hungry eyes. The softness of her curves against his rough palms. The incredible taste of her sweet mouth. Her little moans...
Their eyes found each other and held, burning with intensity that banned every thought about their current surroundings, and without noticing it they closed the distance between each other again, almost touching, when -
"Agent Booth?"
The local police officer brought them back to reality, and with a guilty jump the two partners stepped away from each other, breaking their gaze. Booth turned his attention to the younger man, and Brennan fiddled with her evidence bags – anything to occupy her shaking fingers.
They managed to clear the scene with little dignity and professionalism, but when Booth dropped her off at the Jeffersonian later, Brennan exhaled with relief as she left his car. Never before had his presence distracted her that much. And never before had she felt that throbbing low in her belly at work...
- BONES-
One look at her best friend was enough to make Angela Montenegro's sensors shrill with alarm. The artist couldn't exactly determine why, but Brennan seemed to be surrounded by a distinct aura of sexual energy. Her lips curled in a way that told about sinful kisses; her eyes sparkled.
"OK, Sweetie, what has happened?"
Brennan turned around and gave her friend an irritated glance. 'How can Angela always tell things like that?᾽ she wondered.
"Nothing. Why?"
"You look as if you've been thoroughly kissed, if nothing else. Spill. I'll find it out anyway."
Brennan sighed, knowing that this was highly likely.
"Not that it is any of your business, but on Friday I almost had sex."
"And?"
"In a... public park."
"And?"
"With Booth."
Angela's delighted squeal startled Brennan and probably alarmed half of the Jeffersonian.
"Ohmygodohmygodohmygod. How did that happen?"
Brennan arched an eyebrow.
"You want me to tell you how things like that happen?"
Angela rolled her eyes.
"I want you to tell me what made you jump Booth's bones." The artist giggled at her own play of words. "I mean, four years, Brenn, we'd almost given up hope."
Brennan decided to ignore some implications of Angela's statement and tried to explain the experiment to her best friend. Angela listened open-mouthed.
"Oh Sweetie, somehow this is so wrong and so hot at the same time. So, your experiment is working? You and Booth are working?"
Brennan paused and searched for the right words to express her inner turmoil.
"I don't know, Ange," she finally admitted. "I've never experienced a rush like that. I don't know what would have happened if the night guard hadn't intervened and never before have I lost control like that. Booth is one of my best friends, and obviously we are very attracted to each other, but... what if we have intercourse only to find out that there's nothing more to it? Today I could barely concentrate on the remains. What if this ludicrous experiment ruins everything that makes us good as a team?"
"Sweetie, 'intercourse' is not the right term, and I really don't think that sex and friendship is all you and Booth want from each other, but if it troubles you so much, I'd suggest you do it. Go ahead, screw him. Lose control with him. Then go out again and see where you're standing."
Brennan's jaw dropped at the blunt advice.
"Seriously? You're suggesting for me and Booth to have sex just to relieve the tension?"
Angela nodded vehemently.
"Yes. Do it. Get it out of your system."
"I highly doubt the wisdom of your logic, Ange."
"Fine, Sweetie, then doubt it, but if I may be honest: My idea is not more ridiculous than the whole experiment the two of you have going on."
The artist sashayed out of Brennan's office, and she gazed after her friend with a frown on her face...
- BONES-
Due to the case, their lunch date turned into dinner, and at 7 pm that night Temperance Brennan and Seeley Booth were sharing fries at the Royal Diner. Truth be told, Brennan was merely stealing the fries Booth had ordered, but he was used to it and didn't mind at all. Although he would never admit it, he liked her natural way of claiming his food. It was one of the many things that was theirs.
Booth took a sip of his beer, and watched his partner chew the salty fries. When the tip of her tongue appeared to lick some ketchup from her lower lip, he felt a tightening in his pants and looked away. But there was nothing in the Diner that could keep up with Brennan, and soon his eyes wandered back to her porcelain face. He saw her bringing her own beer bottle to her lips, tilting the head. Her throat moved when she swallowed the cold liquid, and Booth's own mouth went dry, as he thought of the taste of her skin under his lips.
He cleared his throat, and wondered when watching his partner eat had become such a sensual experience. Absentmindedly, he reached for the fries, unaware of the fact she had the same in mind. Instead of grabbing the greasy treat, Booth touched Brennan's hand, equally greasy.
Without thinking about it, he took it into his own and brought it to his mouth. Closing his lips around her forefinger, he sucked it into his mouth completely, licking the salt from her skin. Her eyelids fluttered close at the sensation, and when the finger left Booth's mouth with a "Plop", completely clean and damp, she opened her eyes again. With a smile that could only be described as "seductive", she outstretched her still greasy middle finger to him, and Booth accepted the offer without thinking, repeating his former ministrations.
The suction in combination with the wet warmth of Booth's mouth reduced Brennan's insides to a puddle of heat. She bent over the table to be closer to his clever mouth, closer to the sensation he created. When she felt his raspy tongue licking at the length of her finger, Brennan bit her lips not to moan in pleasure. All too soon no salt was left on her skin, and the warm suction was gone. Before releasing her hand, Booth turned it around and pressed a soft kiss at the inside of her wrist, feeling her pulse underneath his lips.
When Brennan opened her eyes again, she found him staring at her with dark passion. He was calling her on a primeval level, and her body responded immediately. She slid lower in her chair and crossed her legs to soothe some of the tension she felt. Of course it didn't help, the new pressure only made her more aware of the need that was flooding through her. Her nipples hardened, and Brennan was relieved and disappointed at the same time that Booth couldn't see it.
Her voice was not more than a whisper, when she finally spoke.
"Booth, what are we doing here? Aren't we supposed to talk?"
Booth didn't know how to respond and focused his attention on the beer bottle standing in front of him. Beer. Royal Diner. His partner. Talk. The experiment.
"You're right, Bones, I'm sorry..."
"Well, it's not as if I've stopped you. Booth, is this going to be a problem?"
He looked at her. A problem? 'That I want you naked with salt all over your skin right now? That I want to taste every part of your body? That I don't want to stop until we're both sweaty and spent?᾽
"What exactly?"
"This experiment was meant for us to find out if we're in each others way. But somehow it seems that now something entirely different is in the way. I could barely concentrate at work today. You distracted me too much."
He grumbled.
"Let's say, that feeling is mutual."
She struggled with her words.
"Booth, you're one of my best friends, and our partnership is so important to me. But all I can think about right now has nothing to do with partnership. Or friendship. I'm still worried that this sexual tension might ruin everything else. We can't even talk anymore without being carried away."
Booth had to admit that she was right.
"What do you suggest? Shall we stop this and go back to the way things were?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
"I'm afraid that might not be possible anymore. It feels as if I know too much and not anywhere near enough about you. Does that make sense?"
"It does. Knowing and not knowing makes me crazy as well, Temperance," he confessed.
Brennan inhaled a shaken breath, and Angela's idea crossed her mind. Could she be right? Would that be the solution?
"Maybe we should rethink the settings of our experiment. Let's have sex."
Unfortunately, Booth had chosen that moment to take a sip of his beverage and choked on it, coughing desperately.
"Let's have sex? Not that I'm averse, but how is that supposed to solve our problem?"
Somehow Brennan had gotten confident about the whole idea.
"Then we will know. We can get it out of our head and move on. We can see where it will leave us."
Booth was dumbstruck, and although one part of his body was celebrating with a happy dance, the prospect of having sex with Temperance Brennan in the setting of an experiment seemed... wrong. Sex with Temperance Brennan! Wrong? And the rational part of his mind had lost a battle that was impossible to win in the first place.
"Okay. Let's do it. Where? When?"
He didn't want to sound too eager, but as soon as he realized the impact of the whole idea, Booth didn't want to wait another minute. Not knowing that they were on the same page here, Brennan tried to concrete the plan without revealing too much of the urgent need she felt.
"Is your place fine with you? Tomorrow?"
Twenty-four more hours! His body protested violently, but Booth nodded nonchalantly.
"That sounds convenient, Bones. Shall I prepare dinner? Do you want to eat... first?"
Given the circumstances, she doubted her ability to get down any food.
"Um, no. Let's just have-"
"Sex," he finished her sentence.
They looked at each other with wide eyes.
Tomorrow he was going to have sex. With Temperance Brennan.
- BONES-
Tuesday was a waste of time. Although the day seemed impossibly long – the hours simply refused to go by – Brennan couldn't get anything accomplished. Every time she tried to focus on work, their evening plans crossed her mind. The prospect of having sex with Booth made her body hot and cold at the same time.
The man in question was in no better shape than his partner and at 5 o'clock that evening he decided to go home, to prepare himself for the night. In the purpose of killing some time, he cleaned his flat more thoroughly than he had in years. He found a lost sock and a baseball bat he had forgotten underneath his bed. His bed. He ogled the sturdy item of furniture inquiringly and decided to change the sheets. What might she like? No piece of linen seemed to be worthy enough for her body to be draped upon. Finally he pulled a midnight blue cotton set out of his closet, caressing the fabric with his palm to check its softness. It passed the test, and Booth imagined Brennan's milky white skin on the dark sheets. The picture turned him on beyond belief, and he groaned as he felt his body hardening.
Great, how was he supposed to get through the night when even thinking about her catapulted him back to his teenage years?
At six o'clock sharp Brennan closed her laptop, switched off the light and left her office. Some eyebrows arched at her early departure, but she refused to notice it. Her mind was already at home, thinking about an outfit for the night. Definitely a dress, one that said, "Take me; I'm yours." Where did that come from? Brennan shook her head in wonder. She was nobody's, and she wasn't a woman to be taken.
She took.
Booth whistled as he lathered the shaving cream in his palms. Shaving twice a day wasn't his usual routine, but he did not want to burn Brennan's delicate skin with his stubble. And he intended for his face to rub against several parts of her body tonight.
In another part of the city a beautiful woman stood in the spray of her shower, her body tingling with anticipation. With a familiarity born out of years of repetition, Brennan moved the razor over the length of her legs until every inch of skin was smooth. Ready to be touched.
Booth regarded the candles and fought an inner battle. Candle light was romantic, and women loved candles. Temperance Brennan most definitely was a woman. But he was a man, and he refused to fulfill the cliché of a sentimental fool. Besides, tonight was not about candle light or romance – tonight was about sex. Booth threw the candles back into his cupboard, switched off the headlight and tried another scenario with the floor lamps. Better, much better.
Brennan checked herself in the mirror. A floral wrap dress covered the expensive lace set she wore underneath; silky stockings and high heels asserted her long legs. She had tried a new hairstyle and regarded the pinned up-do. Definitely sexy. Experimentally, she wiggled her head, and some loose curls played around her face. Her eyes were dark and smoky; her lips shimmering with only a hint of gloss. She smiled at herself.
At 8 o'clock Booth was pacing back and forth in his living room, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the whole idea. He needed encouragement and opened a bottle of his best Scotch, pouring a generous amount of the golden liquid into two glasses. For the twentieth time his palms roamed over his black shirt and the blue jeans, smoothing non-existing wrinkles.
Then the bell rang.
And Booth opened his door to the most beautiful vision he had ever seen in his life.
In the bright light of the hallway it seemed as if Brennan's head was surrounded by a halo, and her voice was as smoky as her eyes when she spoke.
"Hello, Booth."
Booth swallowed hard, and for the first time another image than that of carnal pleasure flickered through his mind. Wrapping her in his blanket at night. Watching Parker's hockey game with her. Decorating a Christmas tree together. Sunday breakfast. A walk in the snow. Holidays at the beach. It was only a second, but in this moment of clarity he saw a whole life with her passing by, and his chest tightened. It was huge. And scary. And not helpful.
"Hi, Bones. You look… wow."
He opened the door wider, and she entered his apartment with grace that only few people were able to muster on heels that high. She took in his apartment and chuckled.
"I'm positive I've never seen your place so tidy before." Her voice got husky again. "I'm almost tempted to say you were nervous, Booth. At least there are no candles."
Booth sent a quick thankful prayer heavenwards.
"Candles? Nah, Bones, I'd never do that. Do you think I'm a mushy fool who is desperate to seduce you?"
She turned around and came dangerously close, looking at him with heavy-lidded eyes.
"Well, no seduction needed here, right?"
Suddenly it was impossible to swallow again, and he remembered his liquid courage.
"Can I offer you a Scotch, Bones?"
"That would be nice."
Booth was ridiculously glad for the moment of distraction, but as soon as he handed one of the prepared glasses to his partner, he was sure he might need more than only one shot to survive this. Her. She was leaning casually against his door frame, looking expensive and sexy as hell, sipping the strong beverage with a worldly naturalness that took his breath away. The way she was standing caused her dress to fall apart around her knees, and his gaze followed her slender legs to her narrow hips, passing by her feminine curves and her long neck until he reached her eyes. Watching him.
Instantly, he knew that she had observed his reactions to her appearance, and if her smug grin was an indicator, she was pleased with the effect she had on her partner. She was way too self-assured for his liking, and it was time to turn the tables.
The glass still in his hand, he approached her slowly until they were only a few inches apart. Booth lowered his nose to the place where her neck touched her shoulder and inhaled deeply, savoring her scent, but not touching her. When he exhaled, his breath caressed her bare skin like a promise, and Brennan shivered, tilting her head to allow him better access. His nose traced the curve of her neck and brushed a curl next to her ear, so lightly that she barely felt it.
He was teasing her, but she decided to let him have this one. Plus, she was curious where this might lead to.
Using his free hand, Booth captured her head and gently shifted it to the opposite direction, mimicking his former actions at the other side of her neck. He wanted to tell her how wonderful she smelled, but somehow he found himself lost for words, so he settled for tracing her face with his fingertip – again more teasing than touching her. He grazed over her eyelids, her high cheekbone, her jaw line, and it crossed her mind that he was doing exactly the same thing she normally did at work. Feeling a face by focusing on its bone structure. Memorizing its unique patterns.
Then his hand left her face, and mesmerized she watched how Booth dipped his finger into his Scotch glass. It took her by surprise when he slid his damp digit along her throat, immediately followed by his warm mouth. Brennan's head fell back, and her own hand came around his neck to hold him close to her, as he drank the liquor from her skin.
Then his lips left her body, and he wetted his finger again. This time he brought it to her mouth, moistening her sensitive lips with the exquisite fluid. He hesitated only for a second before she felt the tip of his tongue running over her lips, tasting her. As soon as her tongue joined his own, he broke the contact. She moaned, and it cost him all his willpower not to kiss her forcefully, but he couldn't lose control. Not yet.
So he took the forgotten glass from her hand and placed it with his own on the floor next to her feet. Using the advantage of his current position and two free hands, his palms roamed over her long legs, starting at the straps of the heels around her ankles and finishing where the stockings ended and soft skin began. Her dress opened further, and Booth couldn't resist the temptation to tug at the simple belt that held it together. He heard Brennan's sharp intake of breath as the garment fell apart, revealing more creamy skin and lacy underwear.
Booth searched her gaze to find out if she was still okay with this, but her eyes were closed in pleasure. He smiled and resumed his game with the Scotch. This time his moisturized finger dipped into her belly button, and he saw her muscles working before he lowered his mouth to taste this new part of her body. Her hands came onto his shoulders – he wondered if she wanted to touch him or steady herself – as he continued to lick and nibble the soft flesh of her belly. So gorgeous. So delicious.
His iron hard control was wavering, and he encircled his partner with strong arms, almost pressing her into his face. She made sweet little noises that caused vibrations in her body, and he found himself addicted to this. To her. Booth rubbed his cheek over her delicate skin, and although he had shaved for her sake, suddenly he wished to feel rough against soft, to mark her as his.
Brennan let her fingers run through his dark hair and surrendered herself to his ministrations. Too late it occurred to her that letting him begin with this might make it impossible to stop. She had underestimated Booth's effect on her body, but she was way beyond worrying about it. All that mattered was the blissfulness his caresses evoked. Without shame her legs opened; without shame she pressed his fully clothed body deeper into her bare midsection.
It was only when she felt his lips on her lacy panties, searching for her most private parts, that she stopped him with a gentle tug at his head.
"No, Booth. Don't do that."
A flicker of insecurity crossed his eyes, but he replaced his mouth with his thumb, brushing over her tenderly.
"Why? Don't you like it?"
"No, I don't. Please, just don't do it."
Somehow her words cut into him, and Booth wanted to understand.
"You don't want me to do it?"
She let herself fall onto her knees until she was on eye-level with Booth again.
"I don't want anybody to do it. Please drop it, Booth, this is about us having sex, not about you proving a point."
And suddenly he understood, and cupped her face gently.
"Baby, it's okay to lose control, you know? I won't think less of you. I never could."
She shook her head vehemently and decided to finish this conversation in the most efficient way ever. Before Booth could blink, her mouth was against his own, passionate and demanding, and she pushed him backwards to straddle his lap.
"I'm not afraid of losing control and I'll prove it to you. Baby."
The way she was moving on top of him, rubbing her half-naked body against his clothed one, was so sensual that Booth almost lost his mind. He grabbed her waist with his big palms and rolled around until she was sprawled under him, her legs around his hips. His lips closed around her lace covered breast, sucking the sensitive peak into his mouth until she cried out.
Booth thought about slowing down, continuing his clever way of seduction, but when she cupped his buttocks and pressed him into her warm body, every good intention abandoned him. With buckling hips he rocked hard into her and was lost. A growl escaped his throat, as he nestled deeper between her legs, forcing them apart even wider. His pants had gotten way too tight, and he sighed with relief when he felt Brennan's hands between their bodies, fiddling at his zipper and freeing the almost painful erection from its restraints.
Her cold fingers around his hot shaft were almost too much to bear, and involuntarily he thrust into her hand, causing her to gasp as well, as his movement had brought the pulsating head of his member against her own overheated flesh. Booth could feel the damp fabric of her underwear, and he stilled at the sensation, looking into her eyes. She stared back at him, flushed and disheveled, and Booth thought that she had never been more stunning. He kissed her lips in a gesture full of tenderness – tenderness born out of years of knowing her, working with her, sharing a big part of his life with her.
When they broke the kiss, she panted heavily, and her eyes sparkled.
"Booth, now."
He squirmed on top of her in an attempt to remove their remaining clothes, but she stopped him.
"No. Now."
She emphasized the urgency behind her words with a tight grip around his shaft, and he lowered his teeth to her neck, his groan swallowed by her flesh. Brennan tugged her panties aside until the tip of his erection touched her entrance for the first time, and without needing further permission, Booth accepted the invitation and moved inside of her – inch by sweet inch until he was buried to the hilt. Immediately her inner muscles gripped him, tightening around him like a tailor made glove. A perfect fit.
His eyes closed in ecstasy.
"Booth, look at me."
At her demand, his eyelids fluttered open again, and as soon as his unfocused gaze was held by her blue eyes, she pushed her hips upwards. He growled, and his eyes almost closed again. Supporting most of his weight on his left elbow, he cradled her cheek with his right palm and gave her one more gentle kiss before he started moving inside of her.
In and out he slid, their clothes heightening the friction, and after a few controlled moves his thrusts got more forceful and raw. Her legs wrapped around his waist, forcing him to stroke her even harder, and Booth obeyed without hesitation, all the way holding her face and her gaze.
Brennan felt him deep inside her body, and the connection was so pure and overwhelming that it seemed to her as if only his eyes would anchor her anymore. His eyes – brown, reassuring and familiar – looked at her with intensity that was so new, so strange, and Brennan almost whimpered at Booth's demonstration of strength and tenderness. She felt the last ounce of control leaving her, and her arms clasped around her partner, holding him to her shaking body while he continued to rock her world and, well, rock her. She was close, so close, but for the first time during a sexual act Temperance Brennan was afraid to let go, afraid to lose herself in the whirlwind of pleasure.
Booth saw the confusion in her eyes, and doubled his speed to make her forget. She whimpered again, and the soft noise was almost his undoing, but he needed for her to come first, to enjoy this just as much as he did. Suddenly an idea crossed his dazed mind. What if forgetting was wrong? Maybe he should remind her instead? And with sudden clarity his hand left her face to capture her hip, to open her further for his strokes, and bringing his mouth next to her ear shell, he whispered,
"Bones."
She cried out and fell, carried away by a rush of ecstasy, pulsating around him so forcefully that Booth couldn't resist anymore, and with a final thrust, long and deep, he emptied himself into her body, barely feeling her fingernails digging into his back.
He collapsed on top of her, and Brennan tightened her shaking arms around her partner, enjoying his weight. Her legs started to protest at being stretched so widely, but she didn't care and held Booth close to her body with everything she had.
He had called her "Bones". Brennan knew that this was what had sent her over the edge, and she filed that fact away for further examination.
She had had sex with Booth. Precisely, he was still inside of her. She could feel him softening right now, and unfamiliar tenderness exploded in her chest.
Booth chose that moment to stir, and his eyes found hers again. With a tentative smile he brushed a damp curl out of her face.
"Hi."
The tenderness increased, and she had to return the smile.
"Hi, as well."
"Am I too heavy?"
"No."
"Good because I won't leave my current position until you promise me one thing."
She raised her eyebrow in an unspoken question.
"Please, don't leave right now. I know that this is just sex to relieve the tension, and it was... unbelievable, but... please don't leave me right now."
Without analyzing her motive, Brennan nodded.
"I promise."
Booth rewarded her with a bright smile, but then his face got serious.
"I'm sorry, Bones."
"Sorry for what?"
"For not undressing you. Or me, for that matter. For not making it to the bedroom. For being so rough."
Brennan had to suppress a laughter. Leave it to Seeley Booth to turn an incredible experience into a mistake.
"Booth, if I remember correctly, it was me who couldn't wait for us to be undressed. The floor? Well, that sort of happened. And," her voice turned into a whisper, "you haven't been as rough as you might think."
He rolled down from her, and her body protested at the loss of contact. Booth got up and lowered his hand to her.
"Come up, Bones."
She accepted his hand, and he pulled her to her feet.
"Where are we going?"
Her question was answered when he lead her to the bathroom, gesturing for her to take a seat on the rim of his tub. Facing his back, she could see movements with a washcloth and Brennan assumed that he was cleaning and rearranging himself.
Dampening another washcloth, he turned towards his partner, kneeling in front of her. Without much ado, he started to remove her clothes. The intimacy of the situation made her slightly uncomfortable, and she tensed. Sensing her mood, Booth looked at her.
"Please?"
His eyes were full of adoration and vulnerability, and suddenly she didn't feel so bare anymore and nodded.
When she was sitting gorgeously naked in front of him, Booth took the damp washcloth and brought it between her legs, cleaning her gently.
He was irrationally thankful that she let him do this and amazed by her trust. Looking at her uncovered form for the first time, a shuddered breath left his chest. She was so incredibly sexy and wonderful. His eyes roamed over her silky skin, and he frowned when he spotted a mark where her neck met her shoulder. Tracing it lightly with his fingertip, the foggy memory of burying his teeth into her skin came back to his mind.
"I'm so sorry I hurt you, Bones."
She simply shrugged.
"I wouldn't call that 'hurt᾽, Booth, and again: Did you hear me complain?"
"We haven't even talked about birth control."
"Not necessary. And be sure: If I had thought for only a second that you might not be safe or that I could be a risk for you, I'd have said something. This is not the way I handle things like that normally."
He admired her awesomeness.
"Do you want to take a shower?"
"The rational answer would be 'yes᾽, but somehow I feel that I want to stay like this for a while."
A smile brightened his face.
"Then let's be irrational."
He gave her one of his shirts, and she pulled it over her head, almost drowning in the big tee. He chuckled.
"I don't remember anymore if I told you how beautiful you looked when you came to me tonight, but if it's possible you're even more gorgeous right now."
"Booth, that is highly impossible. My hair and make-up must be ruined, and I'm only wearing one of your old shirts."
"I know, Bones, but it is like it is. Simply beautiful. And so cute."
Booth raised his hands to remove the pins out of her unruly hair until the strands were falling onto her shoulders.
"Even better."
She smiled, enjoying his affection more than she probably should.
"What now, Booth?"
"Some good Scotch is still waiting for us. Want a drink?"
"That is an acceptable proposal."
They spent the next hours sitting on his couch, getting slightly drunk, talking about everything and nothing. Every once in a while Booth stopped mid-sentence or interrupted one of her own with a kiss – sometimes sweet, sometimes hot, but never unwelcome. When Brennan found herself yawning for the third time in one minute, she cast a glance at her watch, surprised about the late hour.
"Booth, it's late. I should go."
Something inside of him protested at the thought of her leaving, and he grabbed her hand, pulling her into his lap, simply touching her.
"Bones, forget the experiment for today. You're tired, and I don't want to let you go. Would you stay with me?"
She gnawed at her lower lip, tempted but unsure at the same time.
"I don't know, Booth. That might complicate things."
"I don't care. Let's deal with that stuff tomorrow. Please, come to bed with me."
She knew that she should probably go, but part of her didn't want to, so she finally gave in, granting him and herself some more time in the comforting presence of each other.
"Okay."
He kissed her sweetly and pulled her down until she was sprawled out on top of him.
"It would be disastrous for your back if we fell asleep like this."
"Ah, you're right. Let's go to bed then. I have a spare toothbrush for you, and you can keep the shirt."
Five minutes later Booth switched off the lamps in his apartment and entered his bedroom, illuminated by the moonlight. Brennan was already under the covers, and Booth paused a moment to watch her. Temperance Brennan in his bed, ready to sleep next to him, was a sight he'd never dared to dream he might enjoy one day. Another wave of affection rushed through his body, but Booth refused to analyze its meaning right now.
"Do you need something, Bones?"
"No, thanks, everything is fine," came her sleepy reply, and Booth smiled as he crawled into his bed, joining her.
Brennan gave him a moment to set the alarm and find a comfortable position, but when his movements stilled, she robbed closer to him, already greeted by his open arms. With a content sigh she snuggled deep into his warm body, and he placed a soft kiss at her forehead. His hands drew lazy circles over her back, slowly lulling her into sleep.
Booth felt his partner relax in his arms, and as soon as her breath was slow and even, peace settled over him. For the first time that night he realized that this could have turned into a very awkward situation so easily, but it never had. Sharing passion or his bed with Temperance Brennan felt as natural as sharing a meal with her, and with a profound feeling of rightness washing over him, Seeley Booth finally fell asleep.
- BONES-
It was still dark when Booth awoke due to a stirring in his lower belly. He thought about the vivid dream he just had had about his delectable partner, and he needed a moment before he realized that it hadn't been a dream at all. Her soft body was still in his arms, her gracious back pressed into his chest, and the position of her buttocks against his groin had caused the arousal which had interrupted his slumber.
His nose was buried in her silky hair, and she was so warm, so tempting that his hand slid under her shirt on its own accord. He found her full breast, squeezed it gently and his thumb flickered over her nipple, causing it to tauten. Enjoying her unaware response, he pulled her closer into his body. His palm wandered down her belly to the short curls that covered her most intimate parts. He stroked her lightly, but soon it wasn't enough anymore, so he parted her carefully to dip his finger between her soft folds.
A change in her breath pattern showed him that Brennan had joined the world, and for a moment she went rigid in his arms. Afraid that he might have overstepped some boundaries, Booth slowly removed his hand, but she stopped him with her raspy voice.
"No. Touch me."
His hand went back between her legs, and she opened her knees slightly to give him better access.
"Hmm..."
Her lazy murmur was enough for his member to throb in anticipation, and when Booth's thumb grazed her entrance, tentatively slipping into her narrow warmth, he found her already wet. He used her own fluid to heighten her please and lubricated her swollen nub with it. She moaned.
"Don't tease me, Booth. It's too early for that."
He sucked her earlobe into his mouth, enticing a gasp from her.
"Don't worry, Temperance, I'm not in the mood for teasing."
And with his words he uplifted her leg, aligned himself and simply took her. She hummed in sleepy pleasure, as he slid home.
"Feels so good, Booth."
"I know, Babe."
He set up a slow and lazy rhythm, stroking her almost lovingly. This was so unlike their former frantic coupling, but Brennan felt her body respond to this gentleness. Their position didn't allow him to penetrate her deeply, so Booth let his hand wander from her thigh back to the connection of her legs, pressing her tighter into his body. His fingers found her hypersensitive spot anew, and he circled it with his thumb. The arm that was lying under her bent around her chest, and he caressed her breast with his unoccupied hand, all the while holding her and rocking into her from behind.
Brennan had been barely awake when her body had begun to respond to his touch, and this new round of sexual intercourse caught her by surprise. 'Damn it, this is not sexual intercourse,᾽ she had to admit. This felt so much more intimate and private. Booth was not only having sex with her – he was consummating her. The idea satisfied her deeply, made her feel desirable and female, and she closed her thighs around their connection to add to his stimulation.
His breath next to her ear became shallow, and she felt the urge to kiss him. Unfortunately, that was not possible in their current position, so she settled for the second best, pressed herself closer into his body and opened herself to his fingers.
"Please, Temperance, come for me," he almost pleaded. "I'm so close."
"It's okay, Booth, let it go."
"No way, ladies first."
He softly bit into her shoulder and rubbed her nether region with his flat palm, encouraging her to grind into his hand. Booth was stroking her insides, he was stroking her outsides and he held her as safe and tight as she had never been held before. Suddenly the sensation was simply too much, too intensive, and Brennan trembled in his arms. Her orgasm surprised her with its sweet might, and the moment her inner walls clenched around him, Booth couldn't help it anymore and released deep inside of her, joining her in pleasure.
Before his breathing rate had a chance to return to normal, she had turned around in his arms and was kissing him with unleashed passion. There was no finesse, no show, just elementary need, and he responded wholeheartedly, almost crushing her delicate form to his body.
When the urge was stilled, Booth settled back into his pillow and pulled her to his side again.
"Booth, I think I should go now. I need to shower and change at my apartment before work."
His voice was drowsy.
"Don't go, Bones."
She chuckled.
"You know, at some point I have to leave."
"Why?"
He was asleep again, but his last word was lingering in the air, sobering her. Why? She was Temperance Brennan. She lived alone. She was an independent woman. Therefore. But somehow her own reasons sounded dull. Was that the outcome of their experiment? Did they already have their answer?
Carefully not to wake him, she disentangled herself from her partner, left his bed and padded into the bathroom. She found her clothes, in them the reminder of her own arousal, and the events of the last hours came back with a rush. She had to think.