Here's a story I wrote in early June. It's my first one and it's just been sitting on my desktop. It's long but I didn't feel like splitting it up. Also it's the first story I have ever posted so be aware that it might be entirely...bad. I have another story that goes with this one so I may just upload that sometime soon.
His heart was beating a million beats per minute; his hands were clammy as he knocked on her door. Get it together, Rick. He thought to himself as he heard the deadbolt click. Once again, Rick Castle, the famous bestselling wordsmith found himself at a loss for words. The cause of his nervousness and loss for words was standing before him. She was wearing a classic black cocktail dress, her make-up was minimal, and not that she needed any. Her hair was down and covered her shoulders perfectly and there on her neck was her special trademark necklace with the single ring on it.
"Hi, Kate" was all Rick could manage. Wow, she is stunning he thought.
"Hi" She gave him a shy smile which grew wider at his response. Her butterflies in her stomach seemed to suddenly go away. She got the reaction she was looking for.
He drew a big breath, "Shall we?" he extended his arm and she gladly took it. Together, they walked towards the car.
"Wow, Castle, everything on this menu is so expensive! You know I would've been fine with take out." Kate was skimming through the menu, which seemed to be from another planet with foods she's never even heard of.
Castle eyed her over his menu, raising an eyebrow and letting out a small chuckle; he too didn't know half the things on it. "That's the point of this date, Beckett. We've had take out a hundred times. Plus, it was my turn to choose the place for date night."
Date nights were Castle's idea; sure they have had dinners together in the past four years but those were always in the precinct accompanied by paper work. On their first real date which was a week after her resignation, she had picked Remy's. It was the most natural, easy going date either of them had been on. They sat there and talked for hours, sometimes there was comfortable silence but they were there, together.
Kate laughed softly, "Well, I wasn't expecting to be dinning in a five star restaurant on our second date. By the way, the dress is lovely, I wasn't expecting it either." Kate didn't know where date night would be and when someone dropped off a dress at her door, she became very nervous. She noticed a small twisted smile on his face; oh he was enjoying this, putting her out of her comfort zone.
"Well, as I recall, I didn't set up any limitations to our dates. For all you know, I could fly us out to some Caribbean island for the weekend on our next date." Kate gave him a you wouldn't dare look. Amused, he took her hand and ran his thumbs over hers. "Relax Kate; did you ever think that maybe I just wanted to take my girlfriend out on a nice dinner?"
She relaxed at the use of her first name, okay, so maybe he did just want to spend a nice dinner with her but a five star restaurant? Something was up. Dinner went well and there were no surprises, just how Castle had hinted. Their car service met them at the entrance of the restaurant, hand in hand, they both slipped in.
Castle was slowly regretting the dress he had picked out, it just made her look stunning. They had spent dinner talking and eyeing each other while they ate. Normally, they would be at it like teenagers: holding hands, touching, and stealing kisses here and there. Maybe it was the setting; after all, it was a formal restaurant.
In the end, their want for each other got the better of them. Castle leaned over and kissed her neck, moving up to the spot where he knew would drive her crazy, right behind her ear. Beckett wrapped her hand around his neck and pulled him down to her lips as his hand traveled down her arm and came to a stop at her hip.
The car stopped but neither noticed. The driver cleared his throat. Kate looked out the window and realized they were back at her apartment. Confusion and maybe a bit of disappointment crossed her eyes. Castle was quick to notice.
"Why Kate, if I didn't know better, I'd say that you're a bit disappointed. May I ask why?" Castle asked, trying to hide a grin. He loved that she spent most of the time in his loft, however, this weekend she was planning on visiting her father, he moved date night from Saturday to Friday.
"Oh, I just thought that maybe we would be going to the loft." She answered nonchalantly
Once at her door, Kate felt those butterflies return and she didn't know why. Castle had dropped her off at her door many times and since she showed up at his door they had become so comfortable with each other. Yet, here she was, feeling the butterflies and she cursed at herself for allowing Richard Castle to have this affect on her.
Before inserting the key she turns around and lays her hand on the lapel of his jacket, taking a deep breath and biting her lip, "Are you coming in?"
He leans down and touches his lips to her nose, "Not tonight, you need to rest maybe take a bath. Plus, you're meeting your dad tomorrow so no distractions for you tonight." She lets out a small laugh, almost a snort.
"Did you ever think that maybe I want to be distracted by my boyfriend?"
He gives a dramatic gasps and brings his hand to cover his mouth, "Why Kate! Are you insinuating that I spend the night…on our second date no less?"
Still holding the lapel and stepping closer, "Rick, seriously? I think we both know that we are way past that."
Rick, don't let her win, she's doing this on purpose! Finish the plan! He gulps, taking in her beauty, her smell, oh that Beckett smell that has infiltrated his hoodies, his bedroom, and his heart.
"That's just it, my dear Kate. We are so way past that, if you think about it, we've been together for years. We just never acted on it and the night you came to my door we kind of skipped the fun part."
Confused she raised an eyebrow and in a low seductive voice, "Well, as I recall, you and I both had fun that night and the morning after and the following evenin-."
"Ah yes, but you're missing my point. " He sighed, ran his hand through his hair and timidly stated, "I didn't get the chance to woo you before that night."'
"What? Is this what it's all about? Rick, you know you don't have to do that, you know that I'm in it for the long haul. You really don't have to woo me, you've practically did it for four years!" Somehow she now puts together, Richard Castle was wooing her. He was acting much more like a gentleman tonight, not that he wasn't before. He just seemed more reserved than usual, which for Castle, is a big deal.
"Yes, but that's not how it works!" Kate wanted to interject but he had that twinkle in his eyes which she finds so endearing. Leaning back and biting her lip with a look that said, out with it, she lets him finish.
"Kate, I know you're in it for the long haul. I've told you that you're it for me and I'll be damned if I can't woo my last girlfriend because eventually, our status is going to change and If I don't properly woo you then I've failed. Plus, it would make a great story." Kate smiled, her heart was beating loudly against her chest, he didn't need to explain why he wanted the story, or who he planned on telling it to.
Castle lean forward, starring Kate in the eyes, she can feel his breath on her cheek right under her ear and in a low, husky voice "So this is how it's gonna go Miss Beckett. I'm going to say good night and kiss you good night like a proper gentleman. Then, maybe, in a couple of days you may get a call for a third date." Kate is mesmerized, her breathing was erratic and she had unconsciously moved her hand to grip his shoulder.
Satisfied and giving her a mischievous grin he steps back, "Well, good night Kate." He leans once more and gives her a kiss on her cheek, his mouth barely touching the corner of her lips. He spins on his heels and starts walking away. He turns around and sees her breathless and leaning against the door.
"Oh and by the way Kate, spoiler on our story: you say yes to a third date." And with that he puts his hands in his pockets with a thousand watt smile on his face knowing that his girlfriend has a matching one.