STICKS AND BONES
Chapter One: A Sensual Bath "A conventional good read is usually a bad read, a relaxing bath in what we know already. A true good read is surely an act of innovative creation in which we, the readers, become conspirators." - Augustine Birrel The aromatic steam rose from the bathtub encompassing the room with the fragrant scent of lavender. Steaming hot water flowed freely from the silver taps into the porcelain bathtub, mixing with the generously added silk bubble bath. Milky white bubbles formed in clusters masking the soapy water that lay invitingly beneath it. She made her way purposely through her bedroom towards her en-suite bathroom. Clothes discarded with each step, abandoned and forgotten on the plush cream carpet. As she neared her destination, she paused for a moment to switch off the sole light illuminating the room, sending her surroundings into total darkness. Her eyes flickering briefly to the clock on her bedside table, 08:09 it read. Entering her bathroom she closed the connecting door before turning off another light. Now in complete darkness Kathy headed to the oak cabinet in the far corner of the bathroom, her bare feet hitting the cool tile rhythmically. The darkness made it slightly harder to find what she was looking for, but years of carefully ordering her possessions in a way that suited her, allowed her to locate the objects; a single box of red candles and set of matches. In a matter of minutes all seven candles were lit, the flame glowing brightly providing the room with just enough light. She picked one up at a time, carefully positioning it in the room, before moving onto the next one. Satisfied with her work, Kathy made her way towards the bathtub, shedding her final layer of clothing. She stopped at the back of the fawcett, turning it until she could no more, and the flow of water ceased. Ever so slowly she lifted her right leg and delicately dipped her toes into the water, testing the temperature for a moment. Pleased with how hot the water was she allowed herself to full submerge the lower half of her body. The warm water quickly loosening her tense muscles. A sigh of contentment fell from her lips as her eyes closed shut and she leaned back. Her hand reaching out blinding for the glass of red wine she had left waiting. Time passed by quickly and Kathy slipped into a state of semi-consciousness as her body relaxed and unwound from an excruciatingly long day of work. Most of which she spent hunched over a lab table, examining the remains of deceased civil war soldiers. The alcohol warmly coursing it's way through her. Suddenly, her ears pricked up and she sat up a little straighter. The familiar sound of footsteps could be heard echoing through her apartment. The footsteps seemed to be heading in her direction, yet she made no attempt to get up or move from her current position. If anything she sunk herself further into the soapy water. The door to the bathroom opened as a person entered the room, closing the door behind them. Her heart raced, echoing inside of her eardrums. Her eyes still remained closed. Her body had long since made her aware of the identity of the intruder. Now she sat waiting with anticipation. The man stopped at the foot of the bathtub, taking a moment to admire the familiar beauty before him. He couldn't help but smile at her, fully aware that she could not see him. The moment, however, was short lived and he quickly begun the task of removing his own clothing. First his expensive black suit jacket, then his solid navy blue tie. His fingers made quick work of his buttons and it was not long before his once crisp white shirt also lay discarded on the tile. He took a step closer toward her before reaching for the silver belt buckle that remained tightly fastened around his waist. The buckle opened with ease, followed by the top button of his pants and then finally the zipper. His pants hit the ground with a soft audible thud, a sound that failed to break her from her peaceful revere. He quickly stepped out of his pants and removed his black shoes and socks, placing them together in the corner of the room. As he made his way back to the tub he removed his final article of clothing and tossed it aside. Without wasting another moment he lifted his leg and stepped into the warm water, his body following immediately after. She slid forward in the tub, almost instinctively, providing him with enough space to extend and part his long legs before she slid backward. Her partly dry back meeting his solid bare chest. She leaned back into him, her face titling upwards toward his before she opened her eyes. The familiar warm brown eyes that met her cool blue ones sent a shiver through her body. Her heart rate increased and the small smile on her face grew. "Andy," she said softly, letting his name roll off her tongue, "Hi." He smiled back at her before responding, "Hey." The couple shared a moment; eyes locked, grins adoring their faces, before he leant down, as he had done countless times in the past, and pressed his lips against hers. Temperance sighed deeply, her eyes pulling away from her computer screen, her body leaning back into her desk chair, putting some distance between her and the revealing words in front of her. To a casual reader the chapter was nothing more than the imaginative and innovative writing of a world-renowned best selling author. Even to her most avid fans this chapter would not provide them with a window into her life. A grand total of four people would read this chapter, however, and would see right through her, they would read, with the skill that only they four possessed, between the lines and know that this was no meaningless work of fiction. This scene between Andy and Kathy was different, yes her two protagonists were intimate, yes they were both naked, but the moment they shared was sweet and to a degree innocent. That was something that Kathy and Andy were most certainly not, their sexual escapades were borderline legendary and according to some, what kept her readers hooked onto her every word. Just as she moved her mouse forward, with the intention of dragging her cursor over the text and deleting all of the evidence, her phone rang. Brennan turned her head quickly in the direction of the loud buzzing, her eyes quickly seeking out the source of the noise. Curious as to who would be calling her so late in the evening, she made her way over to the cellular device, her eyes seeking out the name on the flashing display. Angela. Brennan groaned loudly, as much as she loved her best friend, at the moment she was not in the mood to listen to her typical antics. However, her best friend was just as relentless as she was and the phone continued to ring. Temperance gripped the phone tighter, worried that the sound would attract the attention of the other occupant in the apartment. To her relief the ringing ceased and her apartment was once again silent, save for the humming of her desktop computer, still displaying her latest chapter. "Temperance?" a voice called out suddenly, she jumped slightly. "I'm coming, just give me a minute" she replied quickly, not wanting him to find her here in her study, clutching her cell phone. Without wasting another moment Brennan placed the phone upon her oak wood desk and carefully grabbed the two glasses brimming with her favorite wine, pinot noir. Temperence now hurried across her apartment towards her destination, her bare feet tapping loudly against the oak floor. Pressing her back against the door that stood in front of her she pushed it open, entering the darkness that was her bedroom. Without pausing she continued further into the room until reaching the second door. This time she hesitated for a moment, if she was honest with herself, she didn't really want to go in, she didn't want to be spending her evening in there, with him. The man she really wanted to be spending it with, however, was no where to be seen. It has been three weeks since he walked out and two and a half since she had last seen him. Two weeks and three days since she had last heard his voice, he wasn't even speaking to her, she just happened to be passing by her boss' office at the time. "Tempe?" the man called out a second time, "do you need some help?" "No!" Temperance replied, a second too fast, as she pushed open the door and stepped inside. "There you are, I was beginning to think you had got lost" Simon remarked with a warm smile. Brennan frowned, "Why would I be lost in my own apartment?" she inquired, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. Simon's smile quickly disappeared, "You wouldn't have...it was a joke.." "Oh." "So, do you plan on joining me?" he asked her, his smile once again returning as he gestured to the bathtub he was currently situated in. His body submerged up to his waist, displaying his considerably hairy chest to her. Temperance attempted a smile as she made her way closer and handed him both glasses of wine. "Of course" she replied, only able to produce a wry smile at best. Hands now free, she reached for the thin silk strings of her dressing gown. Pulling gently, the knot released and the fabric fell away, revealing her to him. Simon gave an audible gasp as the material hit the floor, his eyes widening as he took in the sight of her. Once more, without hesitation she stepped towards him and lowered herself into the tub, subtly attempting to conceal herself with the bubbles. She closed her eyes as the warm sensation that the water provided encompassed her. As Simon moved closer to her in the water, Temperance let go. Her mind leaving her as her thoughts returned, as they had done countless times before, to that of her ex-partner, Special Agent Seeley Booth.
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