Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Andrew W. Marlowe, though they have found their own way into my heart.
Beckett pads barefoot through Castle's study and stops at the bedroom door. She presses her ear to the wood and then opens it quietly, just enough to stick her head and take a peek inside. The morning sun streams in, bathing the room in soft white light. He's lying in the middle of the king sized bed, the sheets tangled at his feet and his limbs sprawled wide, taking as much space as he can. His eyes are wide open and staring at the high ceiling. He's waiting for her, she thinks. He hears it when she opens the door further and takes a step inside the room. His gaze shifts downwards and finds her. A big, sweet smile spreads on his face and her features mirror his, the corners of her mouth curving up.
With her bottom lip caught between her teeth, Kate starts walking towards him, lifting both her hands and wiggling her fingers playfully. A chuckle, husky with sleep, leaves his mouth. She raises her brows and wiggles them in a funny way, making him laugh again. When Kate reaches the foot of the bed, she climbs onto it and slowly crawls her way up the mattress until she's hovering over him. Her knees are at either side of his body, her hands by his head. Her long hair falls down over her right shoulder and tickles his face. She caresses his soft cheek with her fingertips and leans down to rub her nose with his.
"Where today?" she asks sweetly as she moves up again, keeping their faces a foot apart.
He points a finger to his nose so she leans in to press her lips gently to the tip of his nose.
"Next?" she whispers.
He brings both his hands to his eyes. She grins as she reaches down to press a soft kiss to both of his closed eyelids. When she pulls back, he blinks and opens his eyes again.
"That's three. And now?"
He ponders for a moment before tapping his forehead. She drops a kiss there too.
"Five?" she smiles.
He turns his head to the right and his finger touches the left cheek. She plants a loud kiss there as well. Before she can ask, he raises his arm and brings his right hand close to her face. She takes it and presses her lips to the inside of his palm.
"Four to go…" she hums.
He narrows his eyes, thinking. When he makes up his mind, he touches his right knee. She sits back and pecks the joint through his pajamas.
"Number eight?"
He bends his arm and points again. She pushes the sleeve up and brushes her lips over the inside of his exposed elbow.
"Two to go. Kiss number nine?"
He places his right hand on top of his head. She leans down and presses a kiss, breathing in the smell of shampoo in his hair.
"Okay…Where do you want the last kiss today, honey?" Kate asks in a low voice.
He smiles, his eyes lighting up and crinkling with the anticipation of what he most likes, and his hands move down to his belly. Without taking her eyes off his face, her hands lift the fabric of his shirt and, ever so slowly, she bends down. Her lips touch his skin and she can already feel the tremors of inside laughter running through his body. She takes in a deep breath, filling her lungs, and then blows a raspberry on his belly. He bursts into laughter, a high-pitched peal that brightens her day. The toddler squeals and kicks his legs as his mother tickles his sides and blows a second raspberry on his round tummy. His hazel eyes begin to tear and his face turns red from so much laughter. Kate stops teasing him when he starts to gasp for air. When his breathing has calmed down, he reaches out with his hands. Kate scoops the boy up into her arms and pushes the light brown hair back from his forehead.
"Do I get a kiss today?" she asks him. With a grin on his face, he presses his red lips to her mouth. "Good morning, sweetie," she whispers.
Thank you!