"He said what?" I asked. "Oh, sweetie, I'm pretty sure he's just playing games again. I should go strangle that little…"
"Angela!" Brennan stopped me, grabbing hold of my arm. "It's okay. I'll take care of Sweets. I'm starting to rethink allow him to study us." Releasing my arm, she clenched her hand into a fist, pushing it down on the couch between us. "He doesn't seem to be able to control his need to manipulate the situation. This is exactly why I contend that psychology is not a science. A scientist would make every effort to minimize his impact on the subjects. And he just keeps…"
"Fucking with your head?" I teased. This earned me a scowl and gentle elbow to my ribs.
"I wouldn't put it quite like that, but yes. I just don't understand what he hopes to accomplish by challenging my sexual orientation." I watched her eyes flick along the bookshelves as she shook her head in dismay, a little frown creasing the edges of her mouth.
"Bren, I think he's hoping that you'll feel the need to reassert your straightness. Either with some random guy, whom Booth would be jealous of, or with Booth himself. I'm pretty sure he's in on the Brennan/Booth conspiracy along with Caroline."
Brennan rolled her eyes and leaned back against the back of the couch, tossing the case file she had been holding on the table. "I think Sweets is intelligent enough to know that I'm not going to go out and have intercourse with some guy just because someone says I might be gay. That just doesn't make any sense."
"It would work on some people. Like Booth. If someone challenged Booth's heterosexuality, at the very least he'd feel the need to notch up the flirting to an intolerable level."
"Why? Is Booth really that insecure in his sexuality?" Her eyebrow arched up and she turned to look me in the eye.
"Brennan, he's a guy. For them it's not just a challenge on their straightness, but also a challenge to their manhood. Not to mention, not everyone is as logical and self-assured as you are. That kind of challenge would get an emotional rise out of most people."
"So, Sweets is trying to elicit an emotional response in this situation."
"Exactly."
"Then all that stuff he was saying about our friendship, like how he kept pointing out that my relationship with you is the longest, most open relationship I've ever had…"
"Is just another part of his ploy to make you think that he sees signs that you might be a lesbian."
"It's just ridiculous, Ange. He really needs to stop this childish behavior."
"I know, sweetie." I put my hand on hers, feeling a plan forming in my head. The corner of my mouth began to turn up in a grin as I told her, "You know, we could teach him a lesson…"
"Huh?"
"He's coming, Bren—"
"Okay," She said, scooting closer to me on the couch. Out of the corner of my eye I glanced out and saw Sweets still approaching the office, and leaned into Brennan, bring my hand up to stroke the side of her face.
"Ange, are you sure this will work? I mean, this really seems so silly…" She whispered. Her eyes kept glancing down at my lips and she couldn't seem to stop licking her own.
Smiling, I pushed her hair back behind her ear and whispered back, "Don't worry. This is the exact opposite of what he expected. You'll send him scurrying to explain what went wrong in his little scheme."
I could see her swallow hard as she gave me a little nod. I moved in. Laying my lips across her gently at first until she softened, responding to the kiss. I could feel her long fingers squeezing my thighs, and was amazed to realize that my body was responding readily.
She suddenly gave me a little nudge with her jaw, popping my lips open to allow her to sweep her tongue across my top lip and along the sharp edges of my teeth. My free hand crept around her back, exploring the muscles of her shoulders carefully.
This had already gone way too far when I heard her moan against me. The sound sent tremors through me and I found myself pulling her forward until she was in my lap. Her legs parted and soon my thigh was lodged tightly against the crotch of her slacks as she tilted her head, seeking a new angle. One of her hands found its way into my hair and was urging me forward, tilting my head back as she took control of the kiss. She had me tight against the back of the couch, struggling for breath as her mouth opened to mine and it was my turn to delve inside for a taste.
A loud knock at the door finally prompted us to extract ourselves from our tangled embrace. Brennan practically jumped from my lap once the contact of our lips broke, quickly pushing her hair back from her face and gasping. I managed to get up from my seat, trying not to notice just how flushed her cheeks were or the swell of her slick parted lips.
Opening the door, I found not Sweets, but Booth. He didn't say a word, just stalked through the door, headed immediately for Brennan. A smug grin was plastered to his face as he stopped directly in front of her to cross his arms and look down at her.
"So…"
Brennan and I stared at him, watching his puzzle gaze jump back and forth between us.
"Was that what I think it was?"
"Depends on what you think it was," I teased, brushing by him to take my seat next to Brennan. We hadn't discussed or even considered the possibility that our little stunt might be noticed by someone other than sweets, so I tried to catch her gaze to see what she was thinking.
"What about Hodgins?" Booth demanded, shooting his glare directly at me now. He only looked away when he noticed the motion of Brennan's hand sliding into mine. I brought my other hand to my hair, pushing it back from where it had fallen in my face, considering what to say. I felt her hand squeeze mine as she nudged her knee into mine, encouraging me to speak.
"We have an understanding, Booth, which is none of your business.
"I guess," Brennan added, turning a slight smile at me, "We got a little out of hand. He hasn't left town for a while now and it seems we let our… appetites get the better of us…" She punctuated her statement with a brief peck on my cheek. I was surprised to find that her small gesture sent sparks and heat surging throughout my body.
"How—I mean, why didn't you tell me, Bones? This is a mighty big secret to keep from your partner… From your friend."
I had to look away from him. He looked positively crushed. Ducking my head, I peaked over at Brennan, trying to see if she still wanted to go forward. Even if she'd never admit it, I knew she was attracted to the guy. I'd rarely seen her flirt as readily as she did with Booth.
I was shocked when she squeezed my hand again before standing and proceeding to fix the situation herself.
"You won't tell anyone, will you, Booth?" she asked, a hint of pleading in her voice that I don't think I'd ever heard from my friend before.
"Of course not, it's none of my business. I just… Bones? Can we… I think we need to talk. In private." He looked up and away as he spoke, licking his lips nervously and taking a few steps back from Brennan.
"I have one more thing to discuss with Angela. Then I'm all yours," Brennan replied with a little smile.
"I'm holdin' you to that, Bones. I mean it."
"I know, now, scoot," she said, ushering him out of the room before coming back to sit next to me on the couch.
"So…" I said, not sure where to begin.
"Angela, I—" she started simultaneously, sending us both into a nervous bout of a giggles.
When we finally stopped, I spoke first, "Bren—That was hot."
She nodded, blushing furiously as she looked down at her lap.
"You've got to call Hodgins. I don't think Booth's going to tell, but—"
"Yeah."
"This is very disconcerting, Ange."
"It is. I think, for now, you need to talk with Booth. I think you just totally demolished him, sweetie. You and I can talk tonight. We'll figure this out. Just don't freak out on me, okay?"
"I think I can handle that."
"Promise me, Brennan."
"I promise I will not freak out."
"All right. I'm going to go call Hodgins and you are going to fix that poor man's shattered heart," I instructed, pointing at her sternly.
She rolled her eyes and let out a sigh, "Angela, I didn't not break his heart. I just really messed with his head."
"Whatever you say, sweetie," I replied, giving her a gentle pat on the shoulders.
I began to rise, when I heard her ask, "Are you going to tell him…"
She didn't finish her statement, but I knew what she meant. Brennan was asking me if I was going to admit just how out of hand the kiss had been.
"I think I'm just going to tell him it was a joke to get back at Sweets and that Booth accidentally stumbled upon us."
My response seemed to satisfy her and she nodded solemnly, watching me as I rose and went to the door. Putting my hand on the knob, I paused and turned back to her. "Sweetie?"
"Yeah, Ange?"
"You know you totally just blew my mind, right?"
"Yeah, I know. I think you blew mine too." Her grin was shy and slow to spread across her face and I nearly melted when her teeth bit into her lip as she waited for me to go.
In the hall, Booth was muttering to himself impatiently. "She's all yours, Booth. As promised," I informed him, winking teasingly at him. He paid my efforts to calm him no mind.
I took a step to go, but he suddenly reached out, taking hold of my arm. "Wait, Angela… How long—I mean, Why didn't I know? Why didn't I see it?"
"She'll explain. I promise. Get in there," I instructed him. His mouth opened to ask another question, but I quickly took off down the hall, not looking back until I was safely in my office, sitting at my desk and holding my phone in my hand. I didn't know what I was going to tell Hodgins, but I needed to make this call. It should be easy. "Hey, Hodge, I kissed Brennan today. We were trying to piss off Sweets, but instead just managed to fuck with Booth." He'd laugh at me and it would be over. But I couldn't stop thinking about her lips on mine. My fingers came to my lips to trace the places where I could still feel the searing heat of her kiss.
Suddenly the phone rang in my hand and instantly the fingers on my lips were snatched away. Looking down at the phone, I cursed Hodgins for being so… damn near psychic.
Picking up the phone, I greeted him, "Hey!"
"Hey, Ange. I figured you'd be taking a lunch break about now, so I thought I'd give you call… see how things are going at the lab…"
"It's pretty dull. How's the bug show?"
"It's not a bug show, Ange. It's a symposium on the etymology—"
"Yeah, yeah. Bug show, dear."
"God, I miss you. What are you up to?"
Taking a deep breath, I plunged in. "Dr. Brennan and I tried to give Sweets a taste of revenge this morning."
"What'd he do?" He replied, chuckling slightly. I leaned back in my chair, trying to focus on his familiar voice, closing my eyes to picture him sitting across from me.
"Tried to get Brennan to jump Booth by calling her a lesbian."
That chuckle rolled over into full out laughter. I tried to focus on that sound and remember what it felt like to have him whispering in my ear.
"So what evil plot did you devise?"
"How do you know it was my idea?" I said, trying to pretend I was offended.
"Ange, Dr. Brennan wouldn't resort to stunts without some help. She's too methodical. She's far more likely to just tear him a new one… You on the other hand… Anyway, what did you do?" he pleaded.
"Well, it kinda backfired."
"Yeah? How so?"
"Well, see, we waited until Sweets was coming down the hallway towards us, we were in Brennan's office, and we pretended that we didn't see him and kissed."
"You kissed Dr. Brennan? Hot! I bet that little dude about peed himself. I wish I'd have been there to see his head spin when you told him that you guys were just faking him out." He laughed harder now, clearly imaging the scene thoroughly.
"That's where the problem comes in," I said, stopping his glee. "See, I don't think he even saw us. He veered off once we got started and instead of him it was Booth who saw us."
"Oh-oh, Ange. What'd he do?"
"He got all bashful and heartbroken. It might have been adorable if he hadn't looked so pathetic and crushed. Brennan's in trying to explain it to him now."
"Poor guy. You know, once, before we started seeing each other, I thought there might have been something going on between you two."
"Really?" I replied, puzzled. Why did everyone seem to think that our closeness meant we were more than just friends?
"You girls were having one of your talks in Brennan's office and you hand an arm around her, rubbing her back. I saw you kiss her on the cheek and make her smile. The whole thing just looked so—intimate. Like I was walking in on something much more than just girl talk."
"Hodge?"
"Sometimes I remember that you can be down right sweet… when you're not talking mud and bugs and slime."