21. Lick
He awoke, slowly recognising the familiar feeling of wetness on his fingers. In the week since they'd adopted the puppy he'd awoken four mornings to the tips of his fingers being slobbered.
He forced his eyes open, peering over Brennan's shoulder to where Buck stood on his hind legs, his head barely reaching the height of the mattress, the golden Labrador scrambling against the side of the bed to reach his hand.
He chuckled, using only one hand to scoop up the puppy, settling him onto the bed in front of Brennan where he curled into her chest, his tail wagging happily.
"Hey, dude, stop with the hitting."
He laughed as Buck climbed over Brennan's sleeping form to lick his face.
"I'm going to start closing the door at night just so you can't get in here, man."
He plucked the puppy from where he'd buried himself in Brennan's hair, rolling over to lie on his back, settling Buck on his chest. The puppy pawed against his skin as he climbed across his body.
"Woah, dude!"
He plucked the bundle from where he'd nestled on top of his boxers.
"Only Bones is allowed to be touching down there."
"Booth?"
"Yeah, Bones?"
"Are you talking to Buck again?"
"Gotta discipline him somehow, babe."
At the same time Brennan muttered "Don't call me babe." Buck barked, padding across the mattress to Brennan.
"See he agrees with me." She smiled, clutching the puppy to her chest, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.
"Wow, first kiss of the day goes to the dog, I'm offended, Bones."
"You can have the second." — "And the third," — "fourth," — "fifth," — "sixth," —
She pulled away laughing as Buck squirmed his way between them, licking Brennan's cheek.
"He gets the seventh though."