And hi again! Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews, glad you're still reading. Hope you'll like the following chapter.
Under cover(s) – 20
"You know," Brennan addressed Matilda before joining the others in the hall again. "I think I have to use the bathroom. I'll be right back." She smiled at the other woman and walked towards bathroom. "Sure, I'll be in the hall." Mrs. O'Reilly gave back and Brennan nodded.
When she reached the bathroom, she locked the door behind her. Then she dug a notepad and a pencil out from her purse, grateful that she hadn't left it by the table. She scribbled a few lines down, then folded the paper until she could palm it easily and hide it from curious onlookers. Then she flushed the toilet, although she hadn't used it. But who knew if there wasn't somebody listening?
A few minutes later she joined the others at the table and sat down beside her 'husband'. She placed an affectionate kiss on his cheek to mask the movement when she handed him the piece of paper. Except for a very slight widening of his eyes there was no reaction to her putting a piece of paper in his hands or to the unfamiliar display of affection.
"Tony just told us about his hobby. Gloria and he seem to have a lot to talk about." Vivian smiled politely at the young woman, who was again wearing jeans and t-shirt. The smile was polite…. and false. Brennan could see that it didn't quite reach the eyes of the older woman. Obviously Vivian was not happy with Gloria stealing Tony's attention away from her. Tony, however, seemed quite comfortable with the arrangement and Brennan had to suppress a smile. She was quite sure that Booth found Vivian creepy.
About ten minutes after her return, Tony excused himself and left towards the bathroom, presumably to read her message. She watched him leave the room, admiring how good he looked in the dark-blue jeans and the black shirt that hugged his muscular chest. Brennan blinked and quickly averted her gaze before the others could get suspicious. She was not supposed to ogle her husband of three years like a schoolgirl with a crush, right?
Booth took in a deep breath when he was inside the bathroom. God, how he hated this damn club. Especially Vivian was testing his control, the woman was just plain irritating. He didn't like her leery smile, her suggestive glances and he just hated the way she was treating Roxy.
He'd been surprised when his partner had discreetly handed him a neatly folded piece of paper, but he'd been quick and palmed it, trying not to show his confusion. Obviously, something had happened between her and Matilda that she thought he needed to know. He didn't quite feel comfortable with leaving her in a hall full of Sinners, but he had no other choice if he wanted to know what she'd written.
Carefully he unfolded the paper and read what she hastily had scribbled down.
"1) Matilda suspicious. Act less jealous and more interested in other women. You're TONY, not Booth. I mentioned your catholic background to explain your hesitance.
2) Male suspect who followed us is Matilda's younger brother, Leo. Helps run the club."
His eyes widened in surprise upon reading the information about Matilda's brother. His Bones had been busy…. He would have loved to witness how she had gotten the information out of Matilda. A smile curved his lips. She was getting better and better at interviewing suspects, and she was playing her role quite convincing. Too convincing for his taste. The flirtatious behaviour, the meaningful glances…. It was slow torture to him, making him so jealous he had a hard time to keep his voice down and his fist from colliding with some of the male Sinner's faces, although he was aware it was Roxy, not Bones, doing all the flirting.
'The one' he reminded himself. 'She told me she wants me to be the one. And she is just playing a role.'
Just like he had to play a role, no matter how much he despised the guy he was impersonating.
He gave the note in his hand another long look and decided, that he had to do better. He had to be Tony or he wouldn't make it through the evening without breaking their cover.
Booth decided to get rid of the note, just in case. He crumpled it and threw it in the toilet. He flushed and waited for a moment, making sure the note got washed down. Then he straightened and looked at his reflection in the mirror. "Tony Walker." He whispered. "Let's go."
When he returned, he paused for a moment in the door way, taking in the scenery before him. Roxy was talking to Andrew who was not even trying to mask his interest in her. And why would he, it was a Swinger Club, after all. All Sinners were still gathered around the big table, but he was sure that this was about to change soon. Vivian seemed quite eager to get some action and so did some of the others. Well, he was going to make sure he wasn't involved in the action and had of course every intention of keeping Bones out of it too.
He walked towards the table and noticed how Andrew covered Roxy's hand with his at one point and how she did nothing to discourage him. 'Just playing a role. She wants to get him to talk.' He told himself. Tony didn't care what Roxy did, because he was terribly flirtatious himself, too…. right? He blinked and decided to try Gloria again. He liked her and they had always something to talk about, so he didn't have to put too much effort in it. And the topic of their discussion would surely keep Vivian away…. she seemed to bore easily.
He sat down again and started another conversation about cars. A few moments later he noticed that Tina and James took off together with Carrie and Rick…. Well it looked more as if Rick was vanishing with Tina and James with Carrie. He suppressed a shudder. He HAD known what all this was about, damn it. He knew these people slept with each other and most likely not with their spouses…. after all they could accomplish that at home, right? But still, the whole thing bothered him.
"Are you not feeling well?" Gloria asked, concern etched in her voice. Startled he looked up, realizing that he must have been staring at the door through which the two couples had vanished for quite some time. Obviously, Gloria had been talking to him and had noticed after some time that he wasn't listening. "No, no." He forced a mischievous smile on his face. "I was only wondering if James is going to get 'punished' now."
Gloria giggled. "I guess so. Carrie's his favourite and she rather enjoys a submissive partner sometimes. Rick is very dominant. I have first-hand knowledge of that and don't care to repeat it. I think that there has to be respect for each other on either side. How Tina and he manage to get along…." Her voice trailed off and she shrugged.
"So you can't recommend Rick." Roxy cut in and winked at Gloria.
"Oh, I didn't say so. It depends on what you're looking for. But he's…. well, in my opinion his a rather uncreative brute." Gloria sighed. "But if you like your men thoroughly rough and dominant, go ahead."
Roxy frowned and Booth was relieved to see Brennan's unmistakeable disapproval shine through. "No, not really. Sometimes you don't need finesse, but I don't want brutality."
"Then don't go with Rick." Gloria winked at her again. With some interest Booth noticed that Andrew's hands had clenched to fists when his wife mentioned how she had been treated by Rick. Obviously jealousy was not really an issue….but the proper treatment of his wife seemed important to Andrew, even though he was used to other men sleeping with her. Seeley Booth filed away that little bit of information.
"I really have no clue how Tina and he can get along. Andrew says she's quite dominant too." Gloria continued unfazed. "But, I guess, you could see that for yourself."
Roxy nodded. "Maybe she needs the absolute contrast to James from time to time."
A soft mile appeared on Gloria's face. "Maybe. And you're right, they're the complete opposite. James is really sweet and quite attentive. And he'd do anything you tell him to do."
"Which isn't what I'd be looking for either." Roxy commented and gave the man beside her a long look. "I believe in being equals…. Though occasional role play is interesting. Right, Tony?"
He smiled and nodded. What was he supposed to say, really? His whole experience in role play had been gathered during sessions with Sweets and had been TOTALLY non-sexual. And unfortunately his mind tied the words role-play and sex together with the dreadful horse-fetish group they had encountered. It was all he could do not to shudder in disgust.
"Yes you mentioned that already." Andrew nodded and curiosity was clearly visible in his eyes.
"Nothing too extra-ordinary…." Roxy continued. "Doctor-patient for instance. Something like that." Booth tried not to show that he found THAT image of role-play quite stimulating. He could easily picture her hands roaming over his body, making sure he was healthy. Oh, yeah.
Gloria chuckled. "Tony's getting starry eyed." Booth blinked and gave her a lazy smile.
"I don't object to being examined thoroughly." He said, though he secretly addressed this to the woman beside him rather than to the one on the other side of the table. He heard Roxy chuckle knowingly.
The blond mechanic grinned broadly. "Nice to know…. The thing is, though... He's the doctor here." She jerked her thumb towards her husband, the dentist.
Andrew and Tony eyed each other. "Nah" Andrew shook his head while Booth said. "No, thank you."
Roxy and Gloria exchanged one look and started to laugh. The blond woman lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper and said. "I'm not too bad as a nurse, though." She winked and grinned suggestively.
"Sounds promising." Booth forced himself to say. "But we decided not to take the next… step this evening. Maybe the next time."
He had barely uttered the words, when Vivian rose and left the room with Marc, while his wife marched off with Ethan.
Andrew chuckled. "She's been hoping to get you naked this evening." He commented.
"Marc has no problem with being second choice? I mean, it was quite obvious." Roxy asked calmly.
Gloria giggled. "Marc? Oh, no…. he's content when he gets laid. As often as possible…. Ethan however….." She sighed. "Ethan….worships the ground Vivian walks on. He'd do anything she tells him to do."
"Including sleeping with strange women?" Roxy wanted to know.
"Including sleeping with strange men." Gloria said and Booth's eyebrows rose. "Oh."
"Today Ethan's chore seems to be to keep Sybil busy while Vivian treats herself to a whirlpool-session with Rick." Gloria explained and Roxy nodded thoughtfully. "Shouldn't usually both partners WANT to come here?"
Andrew and Gloria exchanged a long look and he only shrugged and she nodded. "Sure. Of course nobody gets forced to do anything here."
"Of course." Roxy nodded. But both partners sensed that Gloria and Andrew knew more than they had just admitted. There were a lot of secrets to discover, of that Booth was sure.
Okay….. please let me know what you think, will you? THANKS!