Last chapter. Thank you all so much for reading the story, your comments and feedback meant a lot. I had fun writing this and hope everyone had fun reading it. This chapter is why I gave it the M rating, so ye be warned. Arg. (Sorry, pirate humor.)

Booth's heart sang, which he knew probably said all kinds of weird things about him, but he didn't care. He had the confirmation that he needed. She loved him too.

He'd known that her self protection instincts would kick in the minute that he made her feel vulnerable. He'd wanted to kill Sweets for toying with them, but if it hadn't been for him he would never have understood. He could see her clearly now, see how she put up a wall to keep her emotions at bay. He wanted to take her into his arms and hug her and love her until she felt safe, until he could make her see that everything was going to be alright. But her eyes were flashing anger and confusion and thinly disguised terror and he knew he would have to take it slow. He couldn't rush her.

"What do you think you're doing? Why are you playing games with me?" She asked, her eyes wide and glistening with tears. Seeing them there pulled at his heart. He hated that she had to go through this, had to fight through such thick walls just to accept love from someone at face value.

He reached out and brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "I hurt you when I didn't tell you personally that I wasn't dead." He caressed the side of her face with his fingers, feeling encouraged when she let him. "Temperance, I'll never do that to you again."

She stood utterly still, tears continuing to stream down her face as she searched his. He'd used her first name, something that he only did when something vitally important was happening around them. Her heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest. Why couldn't she compose herself?

Putting looked down for a moment, drawing courage. When he spoke again he tilted his face back up to look at hers. "I have some things to say to you and I don't know how you'll feel about them, but I'm going to tell you just the same. No secrets."

Her hand felt small and soft as he took it in his. Butterflies took flight in his stomach, making him feel more like a lovesick teenager than a grown man. Gently, he raised her hand up to his mouth and pressed a kiss to her palm. Warm honey spread down her arm to her belly at the feeling and she felt her knees wobble a bit as his expression grew completely serious.

"We've been through a lot together, you and I. We've weathered a lot of things, things that would have torn other people apart, torn them down. Not us. We can handle all of the criminals and the pain and the hurt and the evil that the world can throw at us Temperance. We can handle it because we're us." He took a small step, closing the gap between them until they were almost touching. She had to tip her head back slightly to keep eye contact.

Taking her upturned face into his hands, he looked at her with such adoration that it made her heart slam in her chest and she held her breath, waiting for him to finish saying what he needed to say.

"I'm in love with you. I have been from day one and I will be to the last day. I'm not asking anything of you, I just needed you to know."

Lowering his head, he placed a gentle kiss to her lips. She'd wanted to push him away, wanted to order him out of her apartment where she could be alone to rebuild the walls that he was ruthlessly tearing down with his tender words and soft touch. She wanted to get away but wave after wave of sensation hit her as he continued to brush his lips over hers, short circuiting her brain.

She'd kissed him before, but it hadn't been like this. This was like being drawn under a big, down blanket when the world outside was cold and dangerous. He was like a drug and she could no more have pushed him away now than she could have denied herself air.

He pulled back and looked into her face, brushing an errant lock of hair off of her forehead. She'd let her eyes flutter closed during their kiss and his heart skipped when she opened them slowly back up, the guarded look in them giving way to a look that he dared interpret as desire.

When she spoke, the accusation and anger in her voice was replaced with a soft uncertainty. "This isn't a good idea. The FBI-"

"Shh." He soothed, a soft smile touching his lips. "The FBI knows we're a good team. We've proven, no matter what's happening, that we can keep our private lives private. There's nothing stopping us Temperance. The choice is all yours."

Reluctantly he took his hands away from her face, giving her space. He didn't want to pressure her. He could see her mind working in overdrive and suddenly a hot well of doubt sprang up inside of him. Maybe she really didn't want him. He put his hands back in his pockets and looked away from her face, suddenly afraid to look into her eyes in case something in them confirmed his fear.

"I've laid a lot on you today and I'm sure you have a lot to figure out. I'll give you some space." He forced a weak smile and started heading for the door.

She had wanted to get away from him, wanted to put everything back in its place inside her heart so she could feel safe again but it was too late. He'd bulldozed her defenses and she was so confused she didn't know what to do. She just knew that she didn't want him to leave.

"Seely."

His heart started pounding so hard that it hurt his chest and he felt a bit dizzy at the whisper of his name. Turning away from the door he'd almost walked through, he could see that she hadn't turned to watch him go and was facing away from him. Slowly, he made his way back across the small room, stopping just behind her.

"Yes?" His voice was as low as hers had been, a soft whisper in her ear. The thread of hope that lay within it made her shudder.

Hesitating for just a moment, she slowly turned to face him. The look in her eyes told him that she'd given up the fight and his heart soared. It was her turn to reach out and put her hand gently on his face as he stared into her eyes, waiting.

"I just have one question."

He had to find his voice again and when he did, he sounded like he hadn't spoken in years. "What's that?"

The look that came over her face was pure love. "What the hell took you so long?"

He reached for her then, crushing her into his arms, his mouth hungrily finding hers. There was suddenly oxygen in the room again. He could feel the world spinning under his feet, feel his heart pounding in his chest and blood coursing through his veins. They loved each other. They loved each other and now they both knew it.

She filled every sense he had, yet it wasn't enough, he needed more. He let his hands run up and down her back as he teased her lips with his tongue. She opened her mouth for him readily and moaned low in her throat when their tongues met inside in a slow, sizzling dance. He trembled slightly at the sound. He'd never wanted anyone more than he wanted her in this moment.

She pulled away first, locking his eyes and taking his hand to gently lead him. "Come with me."

He followed, the butterflies in his stomach going into overdrive when he realized that she was leading him to her bedroom. The curtains were open, allowing the moon to shine in and dimly light the room with a pale, blue glow. She walked him over to the end of her bed and stood in front of it, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him all over again.

He had imagined being with her on more than one occasion, but the reality of it made him feel nervous and excited and scared all at once. She threaded her fingers through his hair. It all felt so good, so right. It was better than he could have possibly imagined and they were only at the kissing part.

She drew away, grabbing the bottom of his shirt in both hands, pulling it up. Obediently he raised his arms, revealing a plain white tank undershirt beneath. He let his eyes flutter closed as she ran the palms of her hands down his chest and then felt as she started stripping the undershirt off too.

When he finally stood before her bare chested he felt the nerves kick up again. She'd seen him naked, recently in fact, but they'd been in an argument and she hadn't acted like he'd made much of a lasting impact on her visually speaking. Now she was looking at him intently, hunger in her eyes. She leaned in and placed kisses to his collarbone, to the well-defined muscles in his chest, then stopped to brush a soft finger over the gauze that still lay taped over the healing gunshot wound in his shoulder.

She darted her eyes up to meet his and then looked back down at the bandage. When she spoke, her voice was shaky. "I never thanked you. You took a bullet for me, saved my life and I, well, I never thanked you."

He looked down in her face as fresh tears sprang anew to her eyes and she continued. "If I'd thanked you, you would know. You would see how much you mattered and I couldn't let you. I couldn't let anyone see how much you mean. How much I love you."

Booth swallowed a lump in his throat and placed kisses to her eyes, tasting her salty tears. "I'd do it for you again and again." He whispered. "I'd do anything for you. You're everything."

Pushing her away gently, he placed a kiss to her lips and slid her jacket off of her shoulders. She shrugged out of it without question and helped him to untuck her v-neck blouse, sliding it up and off to reveal a black demi bra. She reached around to her back and undid the clasp in one swift motion.

He watched as she slipped the straps off of her shoulders, letting the scrap of material and wire fall to the floor. He went hard as rock.

Her breasts were large by any standards but her frame was slim and athletic, which made them look even larger. He reached out with one hand and cupped her breast, his touch as soft as if he were handling a piece of priceless crystal. She let her head fall back, let herself be consumed by how good it felt to be touched by Seely Booth.

"I'm going to touch you everywhere." He murmured, bending his head to find her mouth, kissing her again as he took her in both of his hands. He brushed his thumbs over her nipples and she moaned against his mouth, reaching down to his jeans. She worked the button and zipper before she began inching them down over his hips until they fell into a mound around his ankles.

He stepped out of them and kicked them to the side while she raked her eyes over his muscular body. The bulge in his boxer briefs looked impressive and she couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke him through the cloth. His knees buckled slightly and he made a small sound of pleasure before he reached up and cupped her face with his hands once more.

He looked down into her smoldering eyes, his voice husky with need. "Temperance, are you sure?"

She kissed his lips softly, the desire in his voice sending a tremor through her. "More than I've ever been about anything."

She wrapped her arms around him and leaned back, pulling him along with her until he lay over her on the bed. He slid his hand down between their bodies and unclasped her belt so he could pop the button of her slacks open. She helped him slide them down her legs until she could kick them off. His skin tingled everywhere that hers touched it.

"Sweet God you feel good." He groaned against her lips as he felt her breasts against his chest. "I want to make love to you so badly."

He let his hand run up and down her side while he propped himself up on his elbow, memorizing the curve of her breast, the soft dip of her waist, the bow of her hip. Her skin was soft and smelled like orchids from her perfume. He was drunk with her.

They reversed positions so she straddled him at the waist. His eyes swept over her naked body as he reached up to touch her, caressing her everywhere. He sighed. "So beautiful."

She thrilled at his words. "I could say the same for you."

He smiled and she leaned down to kiss him again while he ran his hands up and down her back, making goose flesh pop out everywhere they touched. She could feel him, hard and ready beneath her.

She needed to feel him inside her. Now.

She rolled again so he resumed his position on top and reached between them to slide her panties down. He needed no further encouragement and made quick work of his boxers.

He stared down at her, unable to believe that they were naked in each other's arms. He'd wanted her for so long, it was almost surreal.

"I love you Temperance." He whispered, needing to say it out loud again, needing her to hear it before he showed her with his body how he felt.

His words washed over her, filling holes in her that she hadn't even known were there. She closed her eyes and pulled him down to her, kissing his cheeks, his chin, his forehead then stopped a hair's breath from his lips. "I love you Seely." She whispered back and pressed her lips to his as he slid inside her.

They moved together in unison, their bodies perfectly in synch. She grabbed his hair in her hands and wrapped her legs around him as he scattered kisses all over her. He wanted every inch of her body to feel his touch, to know that she belonged to him.

She met his thrusts with her own, her hips matching his rhythm in a way that drove him crazy inside. It was like their bodies were built just for each other and the result was incredible.

She couldn't get close enough to him, couldn't satisfy her need to have him fill every part of her at once. She took his mouth with greed and wrapped her arms around him just as her legs were. A thin sheen of sweat slicked their skin at the heat they generated.

He could feel himself teetering dangerously close to the edge as the moans against his mouth intensified. She broke away from his kiss, gasping his first name over and over in his ear. Hearing the sound of his name on her lips was going to be his undoing. He didn't know how much longer he was going to be able to hold out.

Triumph shot through his veins as she arched into him with a cry, her body convulsing around where he joined her. Grabbing a fistful of the comforter in his hand, he let himself accompany her into that sweet oblivion.

They stared at each other, both breathless and trembling from the intensity they'd just experienced. He'd known that when he was with the right woman, his soul mate, that it would be like this. Now that he'd found her, he was shaken by how full his heart felt.

"I know what you mean now." She said breathlessly, her arms still wrapped around him, holding him close.

He kissed her forehead, still trying to regain his composure. "Mean about what?"

"Becoming one. Achieving miracles."

He dropped his head to hers and pressed a slow, soft kiss to her lips. After the long road they'd taken to get here and the way she felt in his arms right now, it truly was nothing short of a miracle. He would cherish it as he cherished her.

The End